Richard Anthony Portas Sr.

Born Jan. 21, 1932, in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the oldest of Lucille and Anthony Portas’ four children. His three sisters, Evelyn, Norma and Elaine, all preceded him in death.

Mr. Portas served as a stenographer in Signals Intelligence in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed stateside in South Carolina.

During that time, he was married to Faye Bertucci. Upon being discharged, they moved to Massapequa Park, L.I., and resided there for four years before relocating to Staten Island, N.Y. in 1963. It was there that they raised their seven children.

Mr. Portas worked as a court reporter for more than 30 years with the U.S. Court of International Trade at Federal Plaza in Manhattan, N.Y. In addition, Mr. Portas founded and operated his own court-reporting agency, Cardinal Reporting, also in Manhattan.

In 1982, Mr. Portas married Anita Bomenka and the couple settled into their beautiful home on Lake Mohawk in Sparta. Together, they relished entertaining friends and family, often hosting dinner parties and birthday celebrations. When they weren’t at their happy place, “The Lake,” they enjoyed traveling and had visited a variety of places from Hilton Head., S.C. to Alaska and even as far as India.

Mr. Portas was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of the Lake, R.C. Church, Sparta.

An avid golfer, Mr. Portas spent much of his time on the fairways, teeing off with co-workers, friends and his many son-in-laws and grandsons. He was a member of the Lake Mohawk Golf Club — located right across the street from his home — for 35 years. “Golfing was his treasure,” said his wife.

Mr. Portas was also a diehard fan of the New York Mets baseball team, always looking forward to a new season and a chance at the World Series Championship title.

Mr. Portas’ greatest love was truly his family — he was a devoted husband and father, and an overly doting grandfather, who took pleasure in spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He kept a pantry full of his favorite goodies — like Cracker Jacks and Mallomars — always prepared to indulge whomever should happen to stop by.

Mr. Portas enjoyed captaining his pontoon boat, taking his family on sun-filled, breezy tours of Lake Mohawk; later, sitting back and watching as the kids took turns fishing off his dock.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Portas hosted his entire family on Palm Sunday. First they would attend an Easter brunch and egg hunt at the golf club, and then everyone would walk back to his home for more food, antics and fun. And, in his typical “PopPop” fashion, there would be a second, candy-filled egg hunt for the grandkids. This special day was something Mr. Portas cherished and looked forward to each year.

Mr. Portas also loved taking walks along the golf course with his grandchildren, often on the lookout for deer and other wildlife.

He enjoyed taking photos with his Canon Rebel, and in later years with his iPhone and iPad. Mr. Portas loved displaying pictures of his family all throughout his home, and would always share his latest snapshots with anyone who visited.

Mr. Portas was devoted to his two dogs — his first rescue, Bugsy, and his second, Rocky, never left his side.

In addition to his wife, Anita, of 40 years, Mr. Portas is survived by his two sons, Richard Jr., and Robert; his four daughters, Susan Maydan, Cathy Foley, Lynn Portas, and Deborah Maira; his 21 grandchildren, and his 23 great-grandchildren.

The oldest of his children, his daughter, Carol Semler, died July 2, 2021.

Visitation for Richard will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871. Funeral mass will be celebrated 10AM on Monday, March 31st, at Our Lady of the Lake Church 294 S. Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ 07871.