In Memory of

Christine

H.

Porto

Obituary for Christine H. Porto

Beloved wife of Leonard S. Wilk passed away unexpectedly on October 15 of a hereditary lung illness. They had been married for 23 years and enjoyed living in retirement in their home in Winchester; they had no children. A second marriage for both.
Christine Helen Porto was born in Appleton WI of Salvatore and Lucille (Hauser) Porto. She is succeeded by siblings Mario , Claudia and Myron, his wife Ellen and their son Samuel. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Mark, Michael and David.
She graduated from the University of Connecticut and subsequently spent several years teaching at the secondary level in England, becoming an Anglophile. She also graduated from the Business Management Program at Simmons College. She joined the Russian Research Center at Harvard, then under the directorship of Professor Adam Ulam and became its Administrative Officer. In addition to her administrative duties, she most enjoyed mentoring incoming Russian Studies graduate students, some of whom were recent emigrates from the cold war countries. Although academic studies were not their problem, social activities and their adjustment to life in the USA were difficulties. She would guide them through these adjustments and also Harvard politics. She made many lifelong friends that are now in the higher echelons of various governments.
She and her husband met being docents at the Ramses II exhibit at the Museum of Science in 1988. This led to marriage and then an extended honeymoon in Egypt and Israel. While able to travel, they toured the western USA. At home her pride was in her flower gardens and grounds.

A celebration of her life will be held at her home in the Spring, when her flowers will be in bloom. Christine being a voracious reader and extensive patron, any memorial contributions can be made to Friends of the Winchester Public Library in her honor.