Ben Portis
Died: July 20, 2017 | Place:
Obituary
Benjamin Mark Portis…
December 9, 1960 – July 20, 2017, of Toronto. Beloved by his mother, sister, brother and friends, Ben died suddenly in a car accident on Thursday evening July 20, 2017. He is survived by his mother, Mary, sister Carrie (Janet), brother Andrew (Karen) and nieces, Jennifer, Julia and Frances. He was predeceased by his father, Bernard. Ben was a graduate of Queen’s University and held graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and Bard College. He was a curator and writer on the visual arts and dance. He had been a curator of the Art Gallery of Ontario and the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie, and for numerous galleries and museums throughout Canada. A Celebration of Ben’s Life will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Studio 105, 105 Clarence Street, London, ON at 2:00 in the afternoon. Arrangments entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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My sincere condolences to Ben’s family. His loss has touched so many people in the arts across the world. Because he was taken so suddenly, our appreciation of who he was and everything he did for the past twenty years he was in Toronto — all his exhibitions that touched so many artists and gallery visitors — is still coming into focus. I have powerful memories of his exhibitions at the AGO, at U of T Art Centre, at the MacLaren, and of my encounters with him at galleries and just in Toronto passing by. Please know that he will continue to be remembered and that the ripples of his work will continue to touch others for many years to come.
Dear Portis Family, I was shocked and upset to hear the news of Ben’s passing. Ben and I were friends through the art world. I met him when he was a curator at the AGO. I am a graphic designer who works in the arts. I’d see Ben at openings and plays and concerts and dance events. We would always hug and say hello and chat about what we’d seen recently. He was so interested in culture in it’s many expressions. I really admired that about him and how diverse his interests were. I will miss running into him at shows. My thoughts and best wishes are with you all in this unimagineably difficult time. Lisa xo
My heartfelt condolences to his family. Ben is missed by many.
I am so very sorry to hear of Ben’s death. The last time I saw Ben was 25 years ago when he came to visit his sister and us in California. It was just before our first child was born. I can’t believe it was the last time. I have thought of Ben so often over the busy years and have told my children stories and introduced them to music we used to listen to when we were housemates for 2 years at university. One of Ben’s paintings hangs above one daughter’s bed and another is in the hallway. I see them everyday. I’ll always remember playing backgammon and listening to Ben’s small but soon to explode record collection and laughing. Goodbye Ben. Rest in Peace.
Remembering Ben, such a special young man, with great gifts he shared with the arts community and beyond. I remember running into him at MOMA in New York a long time ago. We had a great time looking together and exchanging ideas. Our hearts are with our friend Mary and her family.
Madeline & Tom Lennon
We were so sorry to hear of Ben’s passing. He was a fine young man, and we know how much he will be missed. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
My deepest heartfelt condolences go out to Bens family.
Ben was my first adult love. We lived together in New York, when we were young fresh-faced kids preparing to take on the world! He taught me to truly appreciate art in its purest form. One of his paintings hangs in my studio a piece of his sculpture is in my living room and he in my heart. We danced to all sorts of music with sheer abandon. I last spoke with Ben about a year ago after a long absence and received a strange spam email from him a month ago. I can’t believe he is gone!
My condolences to Ben’s entire family, in particular, to his mother Mary who I would often see accompanying Ben to art events and jazz concerts. I am so deeply sorry for the loss of your son.
The art community will also miss this talented curator/writer who without a doubt was one of the best of his generation. The exhibitions he guest-curated for Oakville Galleries were always forward-thinking and exemplary. Ben’s huge breadth of knowledge not only in the visual arts but also in music was very impressive. He moved between them with ease. Ben’s numerous publications will be a lasting legacy to Canadian art. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Ben was such a kind and generous man. I send my love to you, his family. You are in my thoughts.
To Mary, Andy, Carrie and all the family.
I was so sorry to hear the very sad news about Ben.
Thinking about you all and sending sincere condolences.
Patricia Black
Mary and family,
I am extremely sad at the sudden passing of Ben. As a friend, and elementary and high school classmate, I have many fond memories of Ben’s gentle spirit. He will always be missed and remembered by all his classmates.
I wanted to send my condolences. I’ve known Ben for over 20 years through the Toronto art world. He was always a kind, generous sole with a genuine curiosity and love of art, music and life. He will be greatly missed. Lyla
To Ben’s family. I am so very sorry for your loss. Ben was a good friend of my late husband Ian Nixon. As such I fondly recall many occasions spent with Ben in London and Montreal. I have two of his pieces of art in my home. Having experienced the loss of Ian I know the sorrow involved and my heart goes out to you all. My deepest sympathy to you.
To Ben’s family,
Ben and I both worked as summer students at Museum London, then the LRAG, in the early 1980’s. Even at that young age his integrity and passion for the world of art was visible, and it is gratifying to read the comments of friends, both personal and professional, acknowledging his many contributions. I am so sorry that he is gone, and that I was not able to know him better.
Dear Portis Family,
I am so sad to hear of Ben’s passing. I was a fellow Broughdale/Ryerson/Centralite – although Ben was a couple of years older (I was in the same grade as Andy)
Ben and I ran into each other at the Ryerson Reunion last year and we spoke briefly. He hadn’t recognized me (understandably) but later wrote me a lovely card apologizing for not remembering me right away. Apparently he had looked through pictures after I left and memories came flooding back. I was so touched that he took the time to write to me to tell me that. I had wanted to write back but as often happens had set his letter aside temporarily. I had just thought of him a few weeks ago and then my mother told me of his passing.
I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I’d known Ben better. He seemed like such a lovely man!
Kirsteen (nee Black)
Dear Mary, Andy, and Carrie
I am very sad to hear of Ben’s very sudden passing. I remember him from Central as a classmate of both Lisa and Megan where he was tall with dark intelligent eyes and a quick smile. At Bard he spent time with Michele who enthused about their conversations (and his homemade cookies). My mother was very fond of Ben and she updated us all on his interesting career. She greatly enjoyed her conversations about art and life with him and keeping up on his journey over the past 35 years. I saw him last year for the first time in many many years at the Ryerson reunion and we had a short email exchange. I read the recollections from Ben’s peers in the art world, as well as some of his incisive and beautifully written blog posts – he made a big contribution and has left an enormous hole. Nowhere is this felt more keenly than in the hearts of his close knit family. I send you all my deepest condolences.
Hello, I am the daughter of Peter Denny and Marion Johnson, and knew Ben through Greg Curnoe’s art world when I was growing up. Once while he was curator at AGO, he showed me a marvellous artificial indoor cloud exhibit. It was a really wonderful experience. I saw him at some London parties some years back, and am sad that we didn’t get to connect more of late. My very dear condolences to you and all his friends and wider circle of whom I am very glad to have been a part. Am reading all the art reviews that I can find of his online. Such a brilliant person and I miss him already.
Mary and family;
I was very sorry to hear of Ben’s sudden passing. I wish to express my deepest condolences to Mary, Carrie and Andrew, and all those whose lives were touched by Ben’s significant professional contributions and his evident personal kindness.
Debrann and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Ben’s sudden passing last month. Although we hadn’t seen Ben in many years he was not a person to be forgotten: we remember him well as a deeply curious, intelligent, gifted, sincere young man who always asked sensitive, thoughtful questions on deep subjects.
Ben was a frequent visitor to our home and at our bookstore during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. There were generally four topics of discussion: books, long-playing records, art and our two young children. Ben was always kind, playful and generous with Rosie and Zane who enjoyed his visits as much as we did. Although we didn’t manage to keep in touch with Ben over the last 20 or so years we never forgot him and we never will.
Ben always expressed a great deal of love, affection and pride when speaking of his family – we cannot imagine how much you must miss him. Please accept our heartfelt condolences for tragic loss.
See you between the grooves Ben!