High Schooler, 18, Dies Suddenly In Sleep

Philip “PJ” Porter

Funeral services will be held today and through the weekend for a high school senior from East Northport who died in his sleep over the weekend.

“Please pray for the repose of the soul of Philip ‘PJ’ Porter,” reads a statement on Facebook page of Chaminade High School in Mineola, where Porter was a senior. “[He] passed away suddenly in his sleep Saturday night of an apparent heart attack.”

More than 1,700 comments were made to the post.

“The Chaminade families mourn with you,” wrote Elizabeth Hoynacky Giordano. “May it comfort you to know that more people are praying for you than you even know. May he rest in peace eternally.”

Cammy Noelle wrote, “So, so sorry to hear this news. Thoughts and prayers with his family. My son said he was a sweetheart of a guy. The nicest.”

Porter, 18, is survived by mother Barbara Anne; sister Katie; grandmothers Janet Snyder and Camille Porter; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Philip Porter, Jr.

Visitation will be held both today and Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station. A funeral service will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport on Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

Chaminade officials said the school will provide transportation to and from the campus to the funeral service. Student who wish to use the bus are asked to contact Michael Foley at mfoley@chaminade-hs.org.

 –ANDREW WROBLEWSKI