SCN connects long-ago neighbors across the miles

by Joan Tucker

Mindy Kerr of Waterloo Recreation Area has read multiple articles written by Don Porter in the Stockbridge Community News written and, more recently, she read about Porter in SCN’s “Celebrating Men of the Hour” article published in November.

Kerr asked herself, “Could it be that this Don Porter was the big brother of Janey Porter, her childhood friend?” That would be the same Don Porter whose parents were good friends with her parents when they lived in Ypsilanti.

Kerr’s father, Thomas Moore, pressed his daughter to find out, so she emailed me and asked to be put in contact with Porter. After doing some investigating, lo and behold, it was the same Porter family! So upon getting permission from Porter, SCN put Kerr in contact with him so she and her father could reach out.

A date was made for Porter and his wife, Tammy, to visit Kerr and Moore, who is a retired and renowned entomologist from the University of Michigan. Father and daughter share the same home. When Moore, Kerr, and the Porters got together, they spent quality time reminiscing about earlier years living in Ypsilanti, catching up on life in general, and sharing their amazement at how small this world is.

Porter recounted his visit. “I had no idea that Tom was in the area, and I hadn’t seen him in years. I remembered going on ‘bug hunts’ with him and one of my childhood friends in the area. As a young kid, I was really impressed with how much he knew about insects. He was a good teacher and terrific neighbor. What a special treat to be able to reconnect with him and his daughter!”

Considering Thomas Moore’s accomplishments in the field of entomology, it was no surprise that one of Porter’s standout memories is Moore’s lessons on bugs all those years ago.

To learn “more about Moore,” see “Longtime U-M entomologist thrilled by arrival of 17-year cicadas in Ann Arbor area” in Michigan News
news.umich.edu/longtime-u-m-entomologist-thrilled-by-arrival-of-17-year-cicadas-in-ann-arbor-area/

To read “Celebrating Men of the Hour” featuring Don Porter, go to stockbridgecommunitynews.com/donald-porter-opened-doors-to-education/

After many years, Thomas Moore (left), of Ypsilanti, and Don Porter (right), of Stockbridge, rekindle a friendship with the help of Moore’s daughter. Photo credit: Tammy Porter