When people gathered at Knollwood’s West Park to honor Zach Porter, many stories were told detailing varying chapters of his life. Yet they all had a common theme of a young man dedicated to those around him, both at home and on the baseball diamond.
Amid laughter and tears, Porter’s friends, family, and coaches shared anecdotes in a May 25 ceremony officially naming one of the park’s fields after the Lake Bluff resident. In May 2023, Porter, 20, drowned after he became stuck in an Alaskan mud flat where he was traveling with friends.
In August 2023, at the suggestion of the Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association, the Lake Bluff Park District approved the name change of field to honor Porter, but the official dedication was delayed as officials considered renovating the park.
However, a date was eventually set and one of the park’s fields will now have photographs of Porter in uniform along with a large numeral 3, the number he donned while playing for Lake Forest High School, where he was a star pitcher.
For roughly 40 minutes, several speakers paid homage to Porter under sunny skies. That group included Porter’s childhood friend Cole Ginocchio, who described a 2017 incident when playing on a team under a coach who could be very volatile and wanted the same players to pitch in every game.
One time with Porter’s team was winning handily, Ginocchio said Porter suggested to the coach to let others pitch. Ginocchio related the coach was angered by Porter’s idea and stormed off to his car. Despite his young age, Porter took over as temporary coach and the team went on to win.
His friend believed that one incident highlighted Porter’s life.
“What truly defined Zach was his unwavering kindness and his courage to stand up for what was right,” Ginocchio noted. “Even at 13, he had the strength to speak up, bring people together and lead with heart. We ended winning the game not just because of our skill but because of Zach’s leadership, compassion and the fact that he was just an amazing, amazing human being. We miss him more than words can say.”
Speaking to the crowd on the two-year anniversary of his son’s funeral, Todd Porter characterized the gathering as “special, but bittersweet day.”
“Sweet because it is a fitting and beautiful tribute to Zach,” Porter said in a quivering voice. “But bitter because it will also remind us of what we miss so much every day.”
He listed one reason why the name change meant so much to him and the Porter family.
“This will be a place where kids will have fun, make friends and most importantly, play ball,” he said.
Porter recalled how he and Zach spent hundreds of hours playing baseball.
“That is a time I will always cherish,” Porter stated.
He later added, “We pursued ball like others practice religion.”
That dedication to baseball set a foundation for Porter playing the game he loved at many different levels. That included several local teams, LFHS and then as a member of the Washington University club team, part of a student-run organization.
Some of his coaches described what they saw on the field.
“He was never truly satisfied with just competing, he wanted to win,” remembered Sean Royer, who coached Porter in a local league. “By winning it made it more fun. Seeing his friends succeed, it was more fun.”
LFHS head baseball coach Mike Nilles recalled often Porter’s salty language in a lighthearted moment. “When he was on the field, his favorite words all had four letters.”
Nilles then detailed the different dimensions of Porter’s personality.
“Everyone knows baseball is a game of failure but Zach never really accepted that idea. “He was extremely intense and he expected the best from himself and his teammates,” he said. “He was an absolute bulldog when he was in between the lines, but when he was in the dugout he was as goofy and lighthearted as anyone I have ever met.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
