Porter E. Coggeshall
March 30, 1946 ~ January 3, 2021
Porter Eaton Coggeshall was born a Red Sox fan on March 30, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts. The only child of Alice Bigelow Eaton and Harrison Hutchings Coggeshall, he grew up playing soccer and baseball and attending games at Fenway Park with his father. After graduating from The Belmont Hill School, he attended Dartmouth College, and then earned a Master's degree from the University of North Carolina, where he met his wife, Mary Lambert Ball.
After graduation, Mary and Porter briefly taught in North Carolina and Massachusetts before moving to the Washington, DC, area in 1972, and settling in Vienna, VA, in 1978, where they raised two daughters, Elizabeth Dove Coggeshall and Windsor Eaton Coggeshall, and their beloved West Highland Terriers. A dedicated father, he coached youth league basketball and soccer teams, tutored in math, and enjoyed working on projects around the house.
Porter began his career at the National Academy of Sciences in 1972, as a research assistant in the Office of Scientific Personnel, and moved on to direct a multi-year study that produced the Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States. In 1984, Porter joined the Executive Office as Associate Director of the Report Review Committee and was appointed its Executive Director in 1992. Colleagues remember him as “simply one of the kindest, most intelligent, and most caring people” who was tirelessly dedicated to protecting the integrity of the Academy.
Much of Porter’s free time was spent volunteering with service organizations focused on providing housing, meals and employment for people experiencing homelessness. In 2009, he co-founded Job Squad, a group of 60 National Academies staff volunteers who helped unemployed men and women at the Community for Creative Non-Violence, by advising in the preparation of resumes and job applications. He did similar work at Jubilee Jobs, served on the board of directors of Miriam’s Kitchen, and annually led groups of teenagers on summer home-repair mission projects for Habitat for Humanity and the Pittsburgh Project.
Porter, an avid athlete, was a long-time runner, completing six marathons. Over the last ten years, he was also a beloved member of the local hot yoga community and was well known for his contagious humor and marathon yoga sessions -- often taking multiple classes in a day. During the recent COVID pandemic, he quickly made more new friends on his walking route to the local high school track.
Porter determinedly bounced back from any setback he faced. At the beginning of 2020, he was still recovering from major foot and ankle surgery. He put so many miles on his knee-scooter that the brake pads had to be changed twice in a few short months. Friends reported Porter knee-scooter sightings in downtown Vienna.
Porter will be remembered most for his integrity, hard work, and ever-present sense of humor -- whether it was negotiating a contentious report review process or completing seven hot yoga classes in a day -- he was always contagiously upbeat and cheerful and found humor in everything he did.
Porter passed away on January 3, 2021, after suffering a massive heart attack while out jogging.
A treasured friend to many and adored by his family, he is survived by Mary, his wife of 52 years; two daughters, Dove and Windsor; son-in-law, Marc Buursink, and his beloved grand-dog Casper the Little Prince.
An online memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021, at 11 a.m. EST. To request to join, please contact the family by going to http://bit.ly/PorterCoggeshall
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to CCNV, home of the Job Squad. http://www.theccnv.org/
After graduation, Mary and Porter briefly taught in North Carolina and Massachusetts before moving to the Washington, DC, area in 1972, and settling in Vienna, VA, in 1978, where they raised two daughters, Elizabeth Dove Coggeshall and Windsor Eaton Coggeshall, and their beloved West Highland Terriers. A dedicated father, he coached youth league basketball and soccer teams, tutored in math, and enjoyed working on projects around the house.
Porter began his career at the National Academy of Sciences in 1972, as a research assistant in the Office of Scientific Personnel, and moved on to direct a multi-year study that produced the Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States. In 1984, Porter joined the Executive Office as Associate Director of the Report Review Committee and was appointed its Executive Director in 1992. Colleagues remember him as “simply one of the kindest, most intelligent, and most caring people” who was tirelessly dedicated to protecting the integrity of the Academy.
Much of Porter’s free time was spent volunteering with service organizations focused on providing housing, meals and employment for people experiencing homelessness. In 2009, he co-founded Job Squad, a group of 60 National Academies staff volunteers who helped unemployed men and women at the Community for Creative Non-Violence, by advising in the preparation of resumes and job applications. He did similar work at Jubilee Jobs, served on the board of directors of Miriam’s Kitchen, and annually led groups of teenagers on summer home-repair mission projects for Habitat for Humanity and the Pittsburgh Project.
Porter, an avid athlete, was a long-time runner, completing six marathons. Over the last ten years, he was also a beloved member of the local hot yoga community and was well known for his contagious humor and marathon yoga sessions -- often taking multiple classes in a day. During the recent COVID pandemic, he quickly made more new friends on his walking route to the local high school track.
Porter determinedly bounced back from any setback he faced. At the beginning of 2020, he was still recovering from major foot and ankle surgery. He put so many miles on his knee-scooter that the brake pads had to be changed twice in a few short months. Friends reported Porter knee-scooter sightings in downtown Vienna.
Porter will be remembered most for his integrity, hard work, and ever-present sense of humor -- whether it was negotiating a contentious report review process or completing seven hot yoga classes in a day -- he was always contagiously upbeat and cheerful and found humor in everything he did.
Porter passed away on January 3, 2021, after suffering a massive heart attack while out jogging.
A treasured friend to many and adored by his family, he is survived by Mary, his wife of 52 years; two daughters, Dove and Windsor; son-in-law, Marc Buursink, and his beloved grand-dog Casper the Little Prince.
An online memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021, at 11 a.m. EST. To request to join, please contact the family by going to http://bit.ly/PorterCoggeshall
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to CCNV, home of the Job Squad. http://www.theccnv.org/
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My sincere sympathy, Porter was an amazing man and a respected colleague.
I got to know Porter as a fellow yoga practitioner and immediately enjoyed his spirit and thoughts. I will miss him and his sharing of his life and passions — all my best to his family during this time.
Sent with love and remembrance of an irreplaceable role model and mentor.
With deepest sympathy,
This obituary was a great summary of Porter’s life. He was always kind and reasonable, even when great intellectual challenges arose during the debate of National Academies reports (where I worked with him for 18 years). I also loved seeing he was a Westie fan, as am I. That was something I didn’t know about him, and also speaks well of his dog preferences! Condolences and may he rest in piece.
So sad to see someone so kind, hard working, and honest leave us so soon. I agree wholeheartedly with the statement that he was “ ‘simply one of the kindest, most intelligent, and most caring people’ who was tirelessly dedicated to protecting the integrity of the Academy.” His example provides a steady goal for us in these unpredictable times. He will be missed.
Porter was such a breath of fresh air at the National Academies meetings. He insisted on quality and rigor, but did so in a good hearten and guileless way. I am so saddened by the loss of this wonderful man . Johanna Dwyer
Mary, Dove, and Windsor– We are thinking of you and remembering Porter during this difficult time. With deepest sympathy and prayers.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
Remembering you forever Porter in my mind and heart.
A memorial tree was planted in memory of the decedent.