Dr. Edmund H. Portnoy

SCOTTSDALE – Always one to do things his own way, Dr. Edmund H. Portnoy died early on the morning of October 17th after holding on to celebrate his 73rd birthday two days prior. There was no chance of Ed missing out on the opportunity to cash in on one more celebration. While the glioblastoma that took him ravished his brain, it never stood a chance against his perfect heart. To have known Ed was to have felt his effusive compassion, unwavering love, and everlasting spirit.

Ed was born in Brooklyn, NY, on October 15, 1948, and his family settled in San Francisco when he was eleven. His father was Dr. Joseph Portnoy, Cantor of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco for twenty-six years, and his mother was Ruth Kwall Portnoy, an educator. Ed graduated from Lowell High School, where he pitched for the baseball team. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon along with his Master’s and Doctorate in Education from Ohio State University.

Ed is best known in Arizona communities for his thirty-five years of devotion to human services and private philanthropy throughout Arizona. As a progressive in the community, his public service positions included: Executive for Scottsdale’s Youth and Family Services; training and counseling specialist for CODAMA; Director of the Community Treatment Program; member of the Board of Directors for Scottsdale’s YMCA; and Executive Assistant to Herb Drinkwater, Mayor of Scottsdale.

Furthering his passion for community service, in 1999, Ed joined the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust as Director of the Grants Programs. During his fifteen year tenure there, he granted millions in Pulliam Trust funds to hundreds of Arizona nonprofits benefiting the disadvantaged, the environment, animal-protection causes, children, art institutions, and many more.

More recently, Ed served as a Commissioner for the Human Services Commission, City of Scottsdale, and on the Board of Directors for the Brighter Way Institute in Phoenix, a non-profit organization that provides dental care for the homeless, veterans, and vulnerable populations. While his contributions to the community were vast, his real superpower was his uncanny ability to connect with all people, regardless of context, and identify how he could serve them.

Ed was best known by his family and friends as a constant source of reason, a masterful trivia buff, a fervent fan of the Oregon Ducks, and a longtime devotee of the Grateful Dead rock band; he recently named his Labradoodle “Jerry Garcia.” Devoted to his large family, Ed leaves behind his beloved wife of thirty-six years, Joan Portnoy, originally from North Dakota; son Zachary Portnoy of San Francisco; daughters Andrea Wieck of Long Beach, California, Megan Skalina of Phoenix, and Marissa Kolanko of Scottsdale; brothers Robert and Jeffrey Portnoy of Marin County, California; and eight grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Ed’s honor to The Brighter Way Institute. Brighterwaydental.org/donate (tribute donations) or take those funds and attend a Dead and Company show with someone you love. While services will be private, condolences may be expressed at: https://secure.funeralwebhosting.net/myt/notices/DrEdmund-Portnoy