RIP Howard Portnoy 1940-2009

It's with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that I share the news of the passing of my best friend, my idol and my father, Howard Portnoy.

He passed away this morning at 3:38 am with his loving wife Trish and myself by his side after a 6 month battle with cancer.

He was an amazing person whose lively spirit was a tremendous inspiration to me and to most people that had the pleasure to know him.

He will be sorely missed by so many friends and family - but none more so than his wife Trish, his daughter in law Marlene, his grandchildren Melody and Max and yours truly.

The Spirit Carries On 'Ol Popz......
 
Carpe Diem,
MP

February 13th 1940 - January 4th 2009
 


You can read an interview with Howard from VoicesUK here : http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/fb.ashx?m=2222431

So sorry to hear that MP.. my deepest sympathies to you and your family.   *hugs*

My prayers go out to you and your family Mike.

Soundcloud.com/Woven-distortion

Sorry to hear about your terrible loss. You and your family will be in our prayers.

 

My deepest condolences, MP.

Sorry for your loss, MP.  My sincere condolences to you and your family.

https://twitter.com/#!/96GOAT

Thoughts and prayers...

http://www.cyberrentals.com/rental/p120774

I'm sorry for your loss Mike. Please accept my most sincere condolences... :(

sorry to hear this Mike,my sincere condolences, he is on a better place than us now.


I'm much wiser now
A lifetime of memories
run through my head
They taught me how
for better or worse, alive or dead
I realize there's no turning back
Life goes on the offbeaten track
I sit down with my son
Set to see the Crimson Sunset
(Gather ye rosebuds while ye may)
Many years have come and gone
I've lived my life, but now must move on
(Gather ye rosebuds while ye may)
He is my only one
Now that my time has come
Now that my life is done
We look into the sun
'Seize the day and don't you cry,
Now it's time to say good-bye
Even though I'll be gone,
I will live on, live on.'


RIP Mr. Portnoy....

I'm so sorry.

The passing of someone so close is never easy. Carry your memories of your father with you always.

YouTube Videos. - Buzz Magazine.
"It's funny how everything you thought would never change is different now."
-- Trent Reznor, NIN.

My condolences Mike, may he R.I.P.

R.I.P. KeithK

Sorry for your loss Mike. My condolences go out to you and your family.

The only way to live is to die while you're alive.

Very sorry to hear that, Mr. Portnoy. But I think it's good that none of you are alone with their grief.

Turn to the light, don't be frightened of the shadows it creates...

Im so sorry Mike. You have GOT to know you made him proud with all you have done and accomplished.

"He's such a perfectionist. Such a fucking monster musician."  - Geddy Lee on Neil Peart

Losing my father was the hardest thing ive ever dealt with.. Hang in there Mike..  And RIP howard..


Matt

To love someone is to know the song that is inside their heart, and sing it to them when they cannot remember how it starts..Izz-----R.I.P Dime--------Cheat to win! EG

My deepest sympathies to you and your family Mike.   You are all in my prayers.

My prayers go out to you and your family MP!  This must be very hard for you as your father was such a great man.   May he R.I.P.

Rest in Peace =/

So sorry for your loss Mike... May he rest in peace

"Time for the song that will get us chicks backstage!"

I am sorry to hear of your loss, Mike.

R.I.P. Howard Portnoy.

My deepest condeleances to you Mike and to all of your family, especially your children for I know "what it's like to lose someone you know (and especially a beloved grand father) and this felt just the same".

Mike, deepest sympathy for you and your family. Having met your dad, He was sure proud the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Total respect.

As I'm watching the Chaos in Motion DVD right now I read this sad news.
My sad condolences to you and your family. As you say: the spirit carries on, and that's the most important thing: to keep the good memories forever.
Cheer up Mike.
Rest in Peace Mr. Howard Portnoy.

Let's seize the time...

My sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family. Reading your post brought tears to my eyes. Take comfort in your loss that after battling cancer he is now in a better place and is at peace without pain. 

R.I.P Howard

With every step and every breath it's farther from youth and closer to death and the things I've realized now beckon me to shut my eyes and I will grow to the age of maybe eighty years in such little time. "Where Am I Going"-Gino Vannelli.

R.I.P. I'm really sorry for your loss Mike.

Rest in peace, Howard Portnoy.  MP, my heart goes out to you, your family, and all that your father touched.   Peace in your heart.
 
Scott

R.I.P. Howard Portnoy

sorry for your loss MP I can't imagine what it must be like to lose someone that close to you for so long

my prog rock band

R.I.P
I'm very sorry for your loss Mike

Sorry to hear, my thoughts are with you Mike.
I lost my dad last year and I think of him more often than not.
Your loss made me remember mine and brought tears to my eyes.

My sincerest sympathy for you and your entire family. I can tell from the great picture that your father was very proud of his son. You and your family will most definately be in my prayers today.

  I hope this new year will end on a better note than  it started for you MP.  My condolences, all of us who've been following you career for a while now know that you and father were very close, you even let us in on some of that connection with  the commentary for the Yellow Matter Custard DVD wich is all the more special now.

My sympathies Mike. It must have been a hard holiday season. I wish you all the best to you and your family in those difficult times.

I'm so very sorry to hear that!

My deepest condolences, Mikey!

Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny. - Frank Zappa

i'm really sorry to hear that..
my deepest condolences.
all my thougths are with you and your family Mike...

www.lastfm.it/user/biggsave 
www.myspace.com/atonika 

All my  prayers & sympathy  to you and your family Mike

with respect....R.I.P Howard Portnoy


Dany

So sorry Mike...my sincere condolences.

You and your family are all in our prayers.

R.I.P.

Sorry MP!!!

 Carpe Diem, Seize the Day!!

R.I.P.

Any ideas for ink in remembrance yet Mike?

...and even if it takes a lifetime to learn,
I'll learn.

I'm so sorry for your loss Mike, we all here on the forum know how important he was to you, and we are all here for you man. RIP.

"And on the 8th day, God created Dream Theater. God then proceeded to rock out with his cock out."  
Concert Culture 
http://brakmusic.tumblr.com/

Sorry to hear that.

My condolences Mike.


RIP

Mike, I just lost my father a little over a year ago now.   I know exactly how you feel.

All my prayers are with you...

Agape....

(Rev 21:3, 4)

" Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled" - Neil Peart
My Facebook page
I am a Voice123.com voice actor!

My thoughts and prayers to all of the Portnoy family at this difficult time.

"Actually, if you listened to this entire commentary, you need to get a fucking life." - James LaBrie

condolences... prayers to you and your family!

This sucks.... :(

You were far away, u looked beautiful. you got closer, you still were beautiful. u were in front of me, and i realized i needed glasses

My heart goes out to you, Mike.  You and your family will be in my prayers.

My condolences to you and your family Mike.

R.I.P. Howard Portnoy.

Stay strong (especially for the children).

Sorry to hear the news Mike. May he RIP.

"How should I complete the wall?"

wow, thats tough 
i as a 21y.o. guy know exactly how you feel since i had to go through this misery at the young age of 17 o0

i'm very sorry for you, mike! may he rest in peace! at least you carry one obvious thing around with you, which shall remind you and us all of him: the title of this wonderful band you're in, which eventually is his legacy since he was the one to suggest it to you guys!

...actually there's one more thing for us to remember him: the powerful hits on the gong bass drum in "the great debate", IIRC...

R.I.P. mr portnoy...

Welcome to the Family
Alone now you belong to me
Your life will be my cup of tea
I'll redefine Yosemite

I'm very sad to hear this :-(

My condolences go out to you and your family. I'm sure that he is very proud of all that you have accomplished.

I really hate when I'm at a vuvuzela concert and people start playing soccer.
Steam
Last.Fm Account

 My prays goes out to you and his friends and familly My prays goes out to you and his friends and familly 

And now we fade out fast to the blackout and we are heading for our Isola

So sorry for your loss Mike. As you said... The Spirit Carries On! R.I.P. Howard Portnoy

I'm so sorry to hear Mike... My deepest condolences to you and your family.

The spirit truly carries on.

9 out of 10 groupies prefer drummers.

My thoughts are with you Mike. May your father rest in peace!

Now known as João "John" Piruças

I'm sorry to hear this sad news. I remember his interview in one of the DT fanzines he seemed really cool.

Places I frequent: RYM | Last.FM
My Lists: 2000-2009: A Decade in Music - Vol. 1
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I am so sorry to hear that. You dad just has a sweet face and you can tell he is a wonderful and kind man from that face alone. Bless your family at this time and let the memories you have of him guide you all.

Carpe Diem

So sorry to hear that - sad news indeed.

My thoughts are with you and yours right now.

All the best.

To-Mera - UK Prog Metal
Demagogue - Extreme Progressive Metal

God bless you and your family Mike.

http://www.last.fm/user/ouMD/

my condolences as well.  He's no longer suffering, thats the important thing.

Oh, man. 

My deepest condolences. These are very sad news. He seemed like an awesome guy, and I'm sure he will be missed. Thoughts and prayers toall of Howards loved ones.

RIP.

--David

what can you say?
Im sorry to hear that and I wish you and your family peace in this time.
-Keith

Im so sorry to hear this Mike

There's nothing left to loose other than seize the day and carry with us those good moments

RIP

Carpe Diem !

dreadnaught666


So sorry to hear that - sad news indeed.

My thoughts are with you and yours right now.

All the best.

I'd like to echo these words.

"Xabi Alonso... Hamann... Hit by Smicer... IT'S IN! Vladimir Smicer! Two goals in two minutes for Liverpool! MIRACLES ARE POSSIBLE."

My condolences to you and your family.

so sorry for your loss Mike

Sorry to hear that, MP. You have my deepest condolences, it's been almost 10 years since I lost my father (april '99). My thoughts are with you and your family.

Condolences to the Portnoy family.

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My condolences for you and your family, Mike.

I'm so sorry to hear Mike
My condolences are for you and your family!
 
Such a shame
The man who gave us the name we all love so much, "Dream Theater".
 
RIP!

The headless lover of three...
an unspeakable affair...

We can all be thankful for this man. For, without Howard, none of us would be at this little sanctuary and inspired in the way we are, and there definitely would be no "Dream Theater," majesty logo, and so on and so forth. 

I'm sure you made your father very proud on a level that can't even be measured, Mike, and it's tremendous how his influence (not limited to his career) was able to help propel another to inspire millions.

I´m so sorry for your loss Mike. My condolences go out to you and your family.

Gravy


You have GOT to know you made him proud with all you have done and accomplished.

 This can't go without a +1.

My deepest condolences, MP.  I'm sorry for your loss and you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Sorry to heat that MP, my prayers are with you and your family.

This Is Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled...- Steve Wilson, Lightbulb Sun

Terribly sorry to hear this, Mike. I easily recall the devastation I felt when I lost my Mom whenever I hear of someone else losing a parent.

Thoughts and healing vibes sent your way during this very sad time.

Mike, words cannot express the sorrow I feel for your loss.  My thoughts and prayers to you, Marlene, Max, Melody, Trish, and all the rest of your family.  As you yourself said, the spirit carries on.  I just wish I could offer more words of comfort, as I can only imagine how this loss is for you.  Again, my deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your family.  God bless.

I'm sorry for your loss, Mike.

So sorry to hear....thoughts are with you and your family MP.

www.everettpainter.com
"Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a  problem which he has to solve." - Erich Fromm