CW4 (Ret) Fernando “Port” Portillo of Orlando, Florida, 87 passed September 15th, 2024. He was born in New York, New York on August 18th, 1937 to Maisie Portillo (nee) Rowe and Fernando Portillo Sr.  Port grew up in both Vancouver, Canada and San Francisco, California until his graduation from High School.  He preferred the moniker “Port” – as he felt his name was too long and was tired of telling people he did not speak Spanish. Upon graduation from High School, he entered the US Air Force. After completing basic training, he attended the Air Force telecommunications and cryptographic technician courses and spent 12 years in the Air Force. In 1967, Port accepted an appointment as an Army Warrant Officer and would continue service in a wide variety of telecommunications and cryptographic assignments until his retirement as Army Chief Warrant Four in 1985. Port’s overseas military assignments included stationing in Alaska, Vietnam, Germany, and Iran. He was a highly decorated veteran whose military awards include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and many other service and achievement awards. After retiring from the Army, he worked for Motorola Corporation out of London for three years helping develop mobile telecommunications systems in Iraq and Turkey; returning stateside and later working for Engineering and Professional Services Corporation as a field operations supervisor alongside the soldiers he loved so much, providing logistics services and fielding of Army telecommunications systems until his retirement in 2010.

Port met his wife in the 1970s in Teheran, Iran – they married in 1982 in Heidelburg, Germany – living there until he retired in 1985. After a two-month journey “around the world” – he continued living in Heidelburg before moving to London in the mid-1990s.

Port finally “retired” to the Sunshine State in Orlando to enjoy the “sunshine” he loved. He was very active in his local community, serving as the president of the HOA for a community he loved. He loved great food, loved to cook at home plus dine in fine restaurants. Port was an avid and voracious reader as well as writer – regaling friends with his journals – of his adventures “overseas” and his candid observations and commentary as he rode his BMW motorcycle across the US.

Survivors include his wife Shirley of Orlando, FL; daughters Michelle (Portillo) Stepp of Glasgow, Kentucky, Babette Portillo of Glasgow, Kentucky, grandson Justin Cooper, and great grandchildren Ella and Zane Cooper.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at: Harbour Chase of Dr. Phillips 7233 Della Drive, Orlando, FL. 32819 on October 9th, 2024, at 2:00PM.

CW4 (Ret) Fernando Portillo will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.  

Any Memorial donation should be made to: Tunnels to Towers

Below is the link to the donation page:

http://dogood.t2t.org/IMOFernandoPortillo 

For anyone who would prefer to donate over the phone or through the mail, all they have to do is mention they are donating in Fernando Portillo's memory. Here is the information;

PHONE:

Donations can be made by phone by calling 718-987-1931, during our business hours which are:

    Monday-Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm EST

    Saturday-Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm EST. 

MAIL:

Checks or money orders can be mailed to the following address:

    Tunnel to Towers Foundation 

    2361 Hylan Blvd

    Staten Island, NY 10306