Harry Porterfield, a seasoned broadcaster, made a lasting impression on the business. His love of storytelling, particularly in his widely acclaimed work “Someone You Should Know,” helped elevate the voices of numerous Chicagoans who would otherwise go unnoticed but had remarkable stories to tell.
We explore the life of this iconic figure in Midwest media, remembering his commitment to journalism, his influence in Chicago and beyond, and his tragic passing.
Harry Porterfield Obituary
Veteran Harry Porterfield, a host on WLS-TV, passed away on Monday morning following a brief illness, according to family members. His age was ninety-five. According to his loved ones, he died peacefully in Munster.
Chicago Monument; interments with family. At the age of 55, he departed from this life with a wife, four children, a great-grandchild, and a granddaughter.
Check out the tweet below:
Rest in peace to beloved Chicago reporter Harry Porterfield, who passed away this morning at the age of 95. pic.twitter.com/0PW66ryqqY
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) October 23, 2023
Family relatives claim that Harry Porterfield Jr. was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on August 29, 1928. He worked in radio throughout his early career. In Michigan, Porterfield began covering the 10 o’clock news at 11 p.m. Porterfield spent 21 years at WBBM before leaving to work for WLS-TV in 1985.
2009 saw him move to WBBM from WLS-TV, where he had worked for 24 years. She turned eighty-seven in May of 2015. His piece “Someone You Should Know,” which he published in the Midwest, was one of the works that his family members commended.
Chicago’s regional story distribution had an effect well beyond the municipal boundaries. There was hardly much weekend news coverage at WBBM because of a staffing shortage.
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Harry Porterfield Cause of Death
Many people’s lives are now empty as a result of this media icon’s natural death. His family announced his death, provided information about the circumstances surrounding his departure, and organized a public memorial gathering in Chicago so that his supporters and well-wishers could pay their respects.
The national outpouring of condolences validated Porterfield’s notoriety. Not merely a weekend anchor or feature presenter, he was a well-liked character. His genuineness and dedication to unearthing lost legends from Chicago’s impoverished neighborhoods elevated him to a level of public recognition.
View the tweet regarding Harry Porterfield’s passing below:
Harry Porterfield the longtime news anchor and reporter for WBBM-TV Channel 2, and WLS-TV Channel 7, in Chicago, has passed away. He was 95. I will discuss my memories of watching him on TV in the next episode of Vanished Chicagoland Stories The Podcast. It’s coming soon! R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/cik7xxhOCn
— Vanished Chicagoland (@vanishedchicago) October 23, 2023
How Will Porterfield’s Absence Be Felt in the World of WLS-TV?
The devastating news of Porterfield’s passing early on October 23, 2023, stunned the broadcasting community. Following a brief illness, the 95-year-old longtime host of WLS-TV passed suddenly. Both the millions of viewers who had welcomed Porterfield into their homes for decades and the close-knit media community were shocked to learn of his passing.
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