Charlemont, MA – Lewis William Porrovecchio passed away peacefully at home with family on June 29, 2026 at the age of 92.
He was the son of Carl “Jim” and Eva (Shumway) Porrovecchio. He was one of four siblings, Charlotte May Porrovecchio, Lois (Porrovecchio) Flannigan and Carl Porrovecchio. Lew lived his entire life in Charlemont, MA and attended the Little Red Schoolhouse and graduated from Charlemont High School. While in high school he played basketball and baseball. He joined a baseball farm league after high school.
In 1952 Lew enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman and was a Korean War veteran. After the Navy, he worked in construction, for the MA Dept. of Public Works, and the Yankee Atomic Plant in Rowe, MA.
In 1962, Lew entered the MA State Police Academy and reached the rank of Sargent before retiring. During his service for the MA State Police, he rode the buses and walked the halls of the Boston School System during school integration, and was integral in starting the first homicide investigation unit (CPAC) in Northampton among other accomplishments. Even after retirement he followed the police’s creed to serve and protect. When the Deerfield River flooded its banks, he put his boat in the water and assisted the fire department with the rescue of a stranded person and cat from the roof of her home.
On April 11, 1958, Lew married Marjorie (Bellor), his wife of 68 years. Lew and Marge had four children Charlott Ann Porrovecchio (predeceased Lew), Wayde Porrovecchio, Karla O’Byrne, and Scott Porrovecchio. The family took many vacations where the destination was always near water. Lew loved fishing and hunting which took him on trips all over New England, Canada and Montana. Every summer he had a large vegetable garden that he always took pride in not having a single weed in sight and the harvest was always plentiful.
Lew is survived by his wife Marjorie Porrovecchio, his children Wayde and his husband Cornell Marshburn, Karla O’Byrne and her husband Paul, Scott and his wife Dianne, his grandchildren Noah Porrovecchio, David O’Byrne, Kadie O’Byrne and Austin Porrovecchio who were his pride and gained his admiration for their various accomplishments. He is also survived by his brother Carl and sister-in-law Katherine, two nephews, a niece and many great nephews/nieces and great great nephews/nieces.
Service will take place Saturday, July 11 at the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls. Beginning with visiting from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in Leavitt Cemetery in Charlemont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Lew’s name may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes