R Dennis Porch

Raymond Dennis Porch

July 10, 1946-August 17, 2024

Raymond Dennis Porch passed away following a 17 year battle with carcinoid cancer. Dennis, as he was known, was born in Denver, Colorado. He was the second of 7 children. Dennis graduated from Lincoln High School in Denver and went on to study Chemistry and History at Marquette University, but transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was the first in his family to obtain a college degree. He then attended Medical School at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and practiced primary care in Washington and Oregon. He completed a residency in Anesthesia at UCLA. 

Dr. Porch settled down in Orange County where he established a pain clinic and worked for many years in Western Medical Center and Santa Ana Tustin Community Hospital. He was attracted to a second career in psychoanalysis following years of working with pain patients and realizing that some pain could not be treated solely by medication, rather by thinking through and listening to one’s pain. He spent one year in a USC psychiatry residency and realized that he preferred talk therapy to medicating mental health problems. Dr. Porch attended the Psychoanalytic Center of California in Los Angeles for his certificate in psychoanalysis. He taught both there and at the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute. Eventually he was awarded a PsyD. 

Dr. Porch was a thinker. He believed that listening to people whether in a medical office or in a therapy room is the key to healing and good practice. While Dennis had many career accomplishments, too many to name, what is more important is how he lived his life with humor and a regular spirit of generosity to people. He was open and welcoming to all types of people, a value that he modeled to those who had the privilege to know him. His advocacy and fighter mentality kept him alive for years. Not only would he search out the best treatments for himself, but he actively educated those suffering with carcinoid to get the appropriate doctors and care for their condition, and was not afraid to challenge doctors, insurance companies, and administrators to make sure the best care and treatments were offered.

Dr. Porch was preceded in death by his parents John and Bea Porch, and youngest brother Kerry. He is survived by his three children, Cristina Porch-Curren (husband Kevin Curren), Maria Porch (husband Ken Schweifler), and Michael Porch; his 7 grandchildren, Jacob, Paka, Sofia, Elisa, Ryan, Nathan and Kingston. He is also remembered by his siblings David, Christine, Kevin, Vincent and Ann and many nieces and nephews. His humor and generosity is also remembered by his partner Thelma, and many friends, colleagues, and patients. Dennis loved swimming, gardening, fishing, skiing, was a certified SCUBA diver, and was usually up for trying new things and embarking on adventures. Dennis also was a triathlete and marathon runner, completing the Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York Marathons. He cared deeply about the environment and worried about the world for those younger than him.

Dennis will be missed by many and held in the hearts of those who loved him forever.