STANLEY-PORTER, David – Peacefully at his residence on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, David Patterson Stanley-Porter of London age 91. Life-long partner of Dr. Colin McGregor Mailer. Dear brother of Caroline Soles and husband Gary of Agincourt in Toronto and uncle of Adrienne Soles.
David began his career as a high school teacher, specializing in Latin and Greek. Subsequently, he taught Classical Literature at Western University after completing his PhD, with a dissertation entitled “Messenger Speeches in Euripides.” While teaching at Seneca College in Toronto, David became a volunteer lecturer in Opera at the Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre. His passion for Opera led him to start Opera Tours Inc. David organized the “Opera Bus” to take people from London, Ontario to performances in Toronto every Sunday. Eventually, he led tours for Opera aficionados to the great Halls of Europe including Bayreuth, Munich, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels. A favourite stop was the Royal Opera House Covent Garden where David and Colin first attended opera performances together many years ago. David Stanley-Porter will be remembered as a humble man, and dear friend to many.
Visitation on Sunday, April 10 from 2-4 pm at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James St. at Richmond, London. Contributions to the Canadian Opera Company (www.coc.ca) in memory of David Stanley-Porter would be appreciated.