Noel Mark King

Noel King 2/28/44 – 6/3/25

Noel Mark King was born in the Bronx, New York to Ben and Esther King in 1944 and passed away on June 3, 2025 in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by his family.

Noel’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his daughters Ali King (Tim DuRoche) and Heather King (Ingrid Lundin), and sons Justin (Lisa Stanger King) and Matt (Mitzy King), and his grandchildren Jaden, Kaia, Maren, Anjali, Mira, Ramai, Gus, and Junie. He is also survived by his bashert, Rita Cohen King, his wife of 41 wonderful years. Noel was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Harvey.

In addition to family, Noel’s great passion was the New York Yankees, a team he followed closely from the age of 2-½, when his mom, Esther, took him to games at the “old” Yankee Stadium. Noel also loved international travel — visiting 50 countries with his wife Rita.

Over the course of his professional career in New York, Miami, and Portland, Noel worked as an elementary school teacher, high school psychology teacher, and adjunct college professor, before dedicating himself to social service and community-based organizations advocating for the rights and empowerment of vulnerable communities and individuals. Noel worked for decades with those confronting mental, physical, and/or developmental disabilities, substance and addiction treatment and prevention, and programs supporting the health and welfare of children and families. This included positions as Director of Development at both Albertina Kerr Centers and Depaul Industries in Portland and in Miami working as Executive Director of March of Dimes; VP of Development, St. Francis Hospital; Program Director, Fellowship House; and Executive Director for The Haven Center. One of his proudest career accomplishments was rebuilding the campus of The Haven Center’s residential training center for developmentally disabled adults in the wake of Hurricane Andrew.

In the two years since moving to Summerplace in NE Portland, Noel found many new friends who shared his love of lively conversation, politics, good food, and family. And the Yankees.

Private burial service. Celebration of Life on Sunday, June 29 at 10:00am at the Summerplace HOA Clubhouse, 2020 NE 150th Ave, Portland, OR 97230.