Obituary of Don B. Porter

Don Porter 76, passed away at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson Arizona on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, with family and friends at his side. Don is survived by his loving wife Dian, son Lee, daughter Carol, and brother Pat. Don entered active duty service in the U.S. Navy in 1951. He followed that with four years of reserves and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1957. Don acquired his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering when he graduated from Kansas State University in 1958. Don also received an Electrical Engineering degree from ICS in 1959. His engineering experience has spanned nearly 45 years of hydraulic component, electro hydraulic servo valve and system design. Don started his engineering career at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and joined Sargent Controls in 1969. Don was personally responsible for development of quiet valve technology and the design and qualification of quiet valves for OHIO and LOS ANGELES Class submarines. Don developed the advanced quiet technology necessary for SEAWOLF Class submarines. Don holds patents in quiet technology, acoustic energy conversion, and servovalves. Don was responsible for the design of servovalves, and closed loop servo control systems. Don also taught design and analysis of systems and components. In nearly 40 years at Sargent, Don analyzed most of the major hydraulic systems of America's modern submarines and directed the design of over 300 components, valves and related equipment. He was a primary contributor to "quiet" valve technology for submarine applications. Additionally, Don has addressed himself to many of the ancillary hydraulic systems such as cable handling equipment used by submarines for towing sonar arrays and communications buoys and ejecting various acoustic devices such as SAWS (Submarine Acoustical Warfare Systems). Don has also contributed to applications of quiet valve technology in other fields, such as underwater diver's helmets and hyperbaric chambers where elimination of noise is an important consideration. Don was considered by many to be one of the most gifted minds in the business. Unlike most engineers who are very experienced in a unique set of skills or subset of engineering discipline, Don was conversant in all disciplines. Though he was famous for his work in quiet hydraulics control technology, he moved easily from mechanical design, to fluid dynamics, to electrical engineering or power management. It seemed that there was nothing he wasn't familiar with or couldn't explain at the drop of a hat. He willingly shared his knowledge and experience with countless engineers in training and building a foundation for future generations to come. He was just as impressive and rare an engineer as he was a silver haired, beef jerky makin, horse ridin, rifle totin cowboy personality! Don was a rare personality and a rare engineer. Don was very well known and well respected by all of his customers, especially the two submarine building shipyards; Electric Boat Corporation, in Groton, CT, and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, in Newport News, VA. Respect for Don extended from many at NAVSEA as well. They broke the mold when they made Don - he was truly a treasure. To some he was a hero. To some he was a legend. Some knew him as a unique and wonderful kind hearted gentleman who loved to talk and work and inspire others to be creative. He was truly a man like no other. He will be missed by all. There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Desert Sunset Funeral Home, 3081 W. Orange Grove Rd., Tucson, AZ, on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 from 1 PM to 5 PM. Military Honors will be presented at 4 PM. Please join us. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.