Former Three Rivers Community College President Dr. Stephen Milton Poort, 81, of Germantown, Tennessee passed to his eternal home July 14, 2021.
Dr. Poort was born in Topeka, Kansas Sept. 16, 1939 to Milton and Edith Poort. He was active in Boy Scouts and earned Eagle rank in 1954. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1957. He earned a BS in Education at Kansas State University where he was a member of the varsity tennis team and Phi Delta Theta. He taught world history and biology at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka and served as assistant superintendent of schools in Ottawa, Kansas before obtaining his Masters (1965) and Doctorate (1968) in Education at The University of Kansas. He was married to Donna Marie Dunlap and, to this union, two daughters, Kelly and Nicole, were born.
Dr. Poort had a 35-year career in post-secondary education. He helped to begin State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri where he served as the first dean of academic affairs. He later served as vice president for instruction at Northampton County Area Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; campus director for Indian Hills Community College, Centerville, Iowa; vice president for instruction at Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, Iowa and president of Three Rivers Community College, Poplar Bluff, before returning as president of State Fair Community College where he began his career.
Dr. Poort was passionate about his family, tennis, fishing, hunting and food. He loved people and never knew a stranger. He will be missed by many. He leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years; his daughters, Kelly Poort (Brian Sperry) of Falls Church, Virginia, and Nicole Swanson (Lars) of Westfield, Indiana, five grandchildren: Erik Swanson (Tatiana); Jacob Swanson; Nathaniel Sperry; Mallory Swanson; Matthew Sperry and a sister, Marilee Sexton of Corpus Christi, Texas.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held July 24 at Covenant United Methodist Church, Cordova, Tennessee. Rev. Dr. David Weatherly officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covenant United Methodist Church, Cordova, Tennessee; Wesley United Methodist Church, Sedalia, Missouri; or The Village of Germantown, Tennessee Foundation.