Mary Kilby Porter (Polly), 94, died peacefully July 21 at her summer home on Under Mountain Road in Lenox.
Born April 12, 1924, in Lake Forest, Illinois, she attended Chatham Hall in Virginia, Vassar College in New York, and graduated from the University of Denver in Colorado with a degree in theater arts. Winning an acting award brought her to New York City, where she continued her theater career for many years, performing and casting commercials. In 1970, she went to the Berkshires to participate in the Music Theater Group where she continued to spend summers, alternating with Key West winters, for the next 45 years. Key West brought a whole new world of wonderful friends, sports, parties and just watching the waves. Polly shrugged off her beauty, carried a star quality lightly, and made people laugh and deeply adore her. There is so much more to be remembered with tears and smiles.
She is survived by her loving partner of 50 years, Susan Rodgers of Lenox and Key West; her brother-in-law, Charles R. Hickox Jr., of Dallas, Texas; nieces Marjorie P. Anderson (David) of Manhattan, Kansas, Anne P. Conolly of Burlington, Vermont and Mary P. Wright (John) of Eastchester, New York; nephews Charles R. Hickox, III (Cheryl) and Gilbert P. Hickox (Susan), all of Dallas, Texas; many grandnieces and -nephews; and wonderful friends and neighbors in Lenox.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Polly’s memory may be made to either the Lenox Library, Florida Keys SPCA or the Monroe County Library, all in care of the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240. To share memories and stories, visit rochefuneralhome.com.
