Two Long-time LCOC Members Remembered in Different Ways

LCOC members are mourning the loss, but also celebrating the lives of two long-time members who passed from us this month.

Carol Reniger passed away after a long and courageous battle with  illness. Carol and her husband Hal often participated in and enjoyed LCOC meets and events with their 1965 Continental convertible. Most recently they had their trailer and vehicle at the 2017 Huntington Beach Concours. 

Residents of Simi Valley, CA, they were also active in the local Boys and Girls Club. Hal invites members of LCOC to join with family and friends at a celebration of Carol’s life and sharing of memories on Sunday April 7, 2019 at 7 p.m. at The Boys and Girls Club, 2850 Lemon Drive, Simi Valley, Calif. Desserts and coffee will be served.

If you are attending please RSVP to Carol’s long-time friend, Shari Shultz:ndevents2@aol.com.    We extend our sincere sympathies to Hal and all of Carol’s family and friends.

Mike Porto, 67, of Pasadena and Rancho Mirage, passed away peacefully but unexpectedly at home on Tuesday afternoon, March 12. His family settled in San Gabriel after his dad retired from their successful funeral home business in New Haven, West Haven and Hamden, CT.

He was active in the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club; Cadillac-LaSalle Club, National DeSoto Club, Southern California Imperial Owners Club, Antique Automobile Club of America, and Classic Car Club of America where he served as a Director for the Southern California Region.
Mike’s expertise was acknowledged in his service as Assistant Chief Judge for the San Marino Motor Classic. His knowledge has often been described as “encyclopedic and experienced in all facets of the hobby.”  He served on the National Board of Directors of Packards International for 20 years. He was a member of Great Autos of Yesteryear and served as its treasurer, membership director, vice-president and president.

A Life Celebration for Mike will be held in Altadena on Saturday, April 20; for details, please call 714-713-3076 or email sarah@sp2inc.com.

To honor Mike, please consider planting a tree in his honor.  Click here for information Tribute Store.

Mike was born in Los Angeles but grew up in San Gabriel and attended San Gabriel High School. He worked at Duqal Trucking Co. in Vernon earning his way through college at California State Polytechnic University – Pomona where he received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1975 and later his Masters in Urban Planning. After working as a planner for the City of Irvine, in 1985 he co-founded Stephenson, Porto and Pierce (SP2) with partners John Stephenson and William Pierce, where he served as principal planner. Mike was highly respected as a contract planner for the California cities of Los Altos Hills, Hercules, Danville, Brentwood, Livermore and Culver City. He served as primary contract planner for the City of Dublin from 1996 to 2016, and then the cities of Burbank and Hayward to present. Mike was an avid lover of architecture and design. His professional licenses, registrations and affiliations included American Planning Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Pasadena Heritage and Palm Spring Modernism Committee.

His passions also included his treasured dogs, having raised four Scottish Terriers, two of which survive him, Hedy and Holden.
Personally and professionally, Mike was a trusted friend, mentor and humanitarian; beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle, great-great-uncle, cousin, and partner. He is survived by his life partner of 31 years, Gary Carr of Pasadena; sister Anne Marie Porto DeLucia, niece Joann DeLucia and nephews Clement L. (Linda) DeLucia all of Hamden, CT. and Albert M. (Maria) DeLucia of North Haven, CT.; grandnephew, grandnieces and their children.
Celebration of Life arrangements are pending.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mike’s partner Gary and all of Mike’s many family and friends.