Dear Cynthia, I'm so sorry for your loss.  You have been on my heart and mind recently. I don't know what to say except I pray for your peace. Big hugs and God bless you and your family.

I was with some friends tonight at a Resturant where I had run into Richard once. I told her that I was checking out the place to see if by chance Richard was there again and she told be of his passing.  I was so sorry to hear this! I still have the journal that you two gave me when Davey passed and I still read the love letters you two wrote to me. It means the world to me!!  May God hold you in the palm of his hand. There's a New World Somewhere!!

Dear Cynthia and Portaro family, our deepest sympathy and condolences. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be ever with you, may the Holy Spirit envelop you with his comfort and love always. All of our thoughts, prayers and love go out to you.
Love, Jon, Debra, Celine, Isaiah and Holly Montijo


Dear Cynthia, We are so sorry for your loss.  We think of you often-your strength over the past few years has been amazing.  Richard will be missed.  He was always kind to our family whenever we saw him.  Prayers are being sent to you and your family. Sincerely, Jody and Randy Meservey

Cynthia, May the Will of God be with you always, and there you'll find your peace of mind! My deepest sympathy..

Jim B.

Cynthia,  We are both praying for you.  Your path these last few years has been very difficult.  May the Lord ease your pain.   Big hugs.  Nick and Donna Devereux (Courtney Ditto's grandparents)

Our condolences to the whole family.   Bob and Burtie Slawinski and Louie Ball

We carry your heart with us today.
With a heavy heart.
God Bless
The Lawrence Family

Oh, Cynthia, my heart goes out to you! Sending all my sympathy and healing hugs.

Cynthia & Family - 

My deepest condolences on your loss.  Keep him close in your heart, as he is never far away.  Just know you will see him and the kids again one day.

Cynthia & Family,

My sincerest condolences to you.  I pray that you are able to find strength and peace in this difficult time.  Richard is and was such a bright spirit,each interaction that I had with both of you was a blessing.

When R.P. stayed with us during one of his Chemo sessions in LA, he talked about the love for his family and faith.  We are so grateful knowing that he is dancing on the streets of gold...(and wow could he and Cynth dance!).  If you were his friend.....you were blessed.  He was a big teddy bear, and he will be missed by all.   Love you Big Brother.  
Theresa and Richard Hollowell

May God bless and keep you and your family with his precious love.  So many wonderful memories of our early days in Las Vegas and the wonderful times we shared.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Our hearts are heavy with the loss of such a wonderful man of God. Our thoughts & prayers go out to all the Portaro family. ?? 2Timothy 4:7

Cynthia and Family, May God Bless You and Keep you Always!  My heart is very heavy  and David and I send our Deepest Sympathy to you and your Family.

You and Richard are very special to me.  My prayers and condolences goes out to thr entire family.  I will for ever remember and treasure all the times we spent together.  Richard will be greatly missed.  Love to all

There are many things I don't understand about life...answer to "Why did this have to happen?"
However, I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that through our faith in Him we can find some relief. Because of Him, death is not the end of our existence. I know that by Him we can return to live with our Father in Heaven.

I'm only sharing this Cynthia as a comforting reminder to your heart my friend.
Please know that you are in my thoughts and I send my deepest sympathy, and payers for the strength to hold on, to a family who has suffered a devastating tragedy. My heart breaks for your loss.
Sincerely,
Therese Bockholt
#FaithFamily

You & Richard were & are very special to my life. You said it all!  Always brought a laugh to the room. You two were awesome together!  He will be greatly missed!  Love you so much.  ?????? Friends forever!

Our prayers and condolences to Cindy and the entire Portaro family. Your family is in our hearts and prayers. 
Frank & Valarie Walton

Though not often enough, I will always remember & treasure each & every encounter I was blessed to have with Richard. From spending precious time with he & Cynthia in Vegas, to helping find a repair shop for his family in Phx, to spending days with them after the untimely & tragic deaths of Mikey and Christina...every time Richard managed to make it special & memorable to everyone present, regardless of the reasons we had come together. Together wirh his beautiful Cynthia steadfast by his side, there was no mountain that couldn't be climbed and no issues that couldn't be resolved...and all with the pure grace, unconditional love and integrity always displayed by these 2 incredible people. To say "Richard you will be missed", falls way short of any words that this mere mortal can summise. You, my dearest friend are now at eternal peace, of which you so richly deserve. With much respect and love always ?

Prayers and much love to you all.  We had great times with you and Richard - he will be missed.  

Scott and Robin Lemon

My deepest condolences to you Cindy and your family. Richard was and still is one of my dearest friends and God-father to my son Jeremy. Jeremy and I will miss him physically but he will always be in our hearts. The poem below was sent to me 5 years ago when my wife Lydia passed away. It is very comforting:

"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me. Let my name be the household word that it always was. Let my name be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolutely unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is past, nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before, only better; infinitely happier and forever."
Henry Scott Holland

So sorry to hear the sad news, Condolences to Cindy & family, I still remember many good times had with Richard & I will always remember we were at a Miami Dolphins game the night John Lennon was shot, 12/8/80, hard to believe it was 34 years ago-He will always be remembered fondly-Don Rickling-Ft. Lauderdale, FL

OBITUARY

Richard Dennis Portaro Jr.

March 3, 1953 – November 27, 2014

Palm Downtown Mortuary & Cemetery

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