Philip J. LaPorte

Philip J. LaPorte

Philip J. LaPorte, 77, of Lehigh Acres, died Friday, November 4, 2011 following an extended illness. He was born November 22, 1933 in Biddeford, Maine, and moved to Lehigh Acres from Old Orchard Beach, Maine, in 2002. He a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War in the 7th. Infantry. He was a career firefighter, beginning his career as a junior firefighter in 1949 for the Old Orchard Beach Fire Department and retiring as fire chief in 1995.

He was a member of Blessed Pope John XXIII Catholic Church, a fourth degree Knights of Columbus in the James Mullen Council, #0358 in Old Orchard Beach; member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, International Fire Chiefs Association and was past president of the York County Fire Fights Association. After moving to Florida, he drove for Road To Recovery patients for the American Cancer Society .

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Angela J. LaPorte; his daughter, Monique Haigis of Lehigh Acres and his granddaughter, Meaghan Haigis of Lehigh Acres.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at Blessed Pope John XXIII, 13060 Palomino Lane, Fort Myers, off of Daniels Parkway.

Memorial services will take place in Old Orchard Beach Maine at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4575 Via Royale, Suite 110, Fort Myers, FL 33907 or to www.cancer.org.

Funeral arrangements handled by Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, Fla., 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be made at: www.fortmyersmemorial.com.