Neil H. Porterfield

Neil H. Porterfield, 88, passed away on Saturday morning, November 23, 2024.

Neil was born August 15, 1936, in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Philip F. and Alvira Rae Porterfield.  He graduated from Franklin Regional High School and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University in 1958 and a Master’s Degree from The University of Pennsylvania in 1963.  

After graduating, he would then be hired by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) and move to St Louis, Missouri, eventually becoming Senior Vice President and helping grow the firm to the largest architecture and planning firm in the world at the time, with offices around the globe. Some of the notable projects he was involved in were the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, Doha, Qatar new town development, King Khaled airport in Riyadh, Kellogg’s HQ in Battle Creek, MI, King Saud University in Riyadh, Levi Strauss in San Francisco, to name a few.

He was a classic environmentalist and loved being outside surrounded by the countryside, where he would find solitude and peacefulness. He loved to read and write poems and enjoyed spending weekends with his family at the country home he built himself in the Ozark Mountains area of Missouri.  

Neil’s fond connection to the Pennsylvania State University would take his family from the St. Louis area to State College, Pennsylvania in 1985 where he would eventually become the dean of the College of Arts and Architecture.

Neil would also be appointed as Vice Chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts in Washington D.C. by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and serve in this position until 1993. A distinguished appointment he enjoyed which involved his expertise in historic preservation, national memorials, and public art. This appointment coincided with serving on the design arts panel of the National Endowment of the Arts.

He retired in 2000 from The Pennsylvania State University as Dean Emeritus and spent much of his time around the home and space he had designed in Linden Hall, Pennsylvania.

In 2004 an endowment was created in his name for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) which he created, focused on supporting programs that promote interdisciplinary study within the school. 

His children were fortunate to have a father that provided them with an endless supply of amazing memories that encompassed vacations from Alaska to Europe, summers in Leland, MI and the places they called home.

He will be remembered for his patience, generosity, kindness, and selflessness. He adored his grandchildren and was married to his high school sweetheart, Sandra B. Porterfield, for 67 years who survives at home. He is also survived by his three children, Garrett A. Porterfield, Jennifer P. Barber, Eric J. Porterfield, and spouses.  Along with his seven grandchildren, Ellie Harris, Emma Barber, Lily Barber, Sarah Barber, Penn Porterfield, Grace Porterfield, Neil Porterfield, and several nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his brother Bruce R. Porterfield and sister Phyllis P. Rottach.  

A private service will be held gravesite at Hebron Presbyterian Church in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.  

Anyone is welcome to send flowers to Hart Funeral Home, 3103 Lillian Ave., Murrysville, PA 15668, but in lieu of flowers, you may give to the Neil H. Porterfield Endowment for the School of Arts and Architecture (SALA), Pennsylvania State University. Gifts can be made by check, payable to Penn State—Porterfield Endowment, and mailed to Penn State, Donor and Member Services, 329 Innovation Blvd, Suite 311, State College, PA 16803. Please include 'In Memory of Neil Porterfield' in the memo line.

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