Brian W. Portugal's Obituary
Brian Wesley Portugal, 40, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas where he represented the government in direct criminal appeals and post-conviction litigation.
Born in Dallas, Texas on August 27, 1980, he graduated from Crowley High School in 1998, where he was captain of the tennis team. Brian entered TCU and graduated in 2001, cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science and was in the Graduate of Distinction Program in Political Science. He participated in the Creative Writing Competition and his "Good 'Ol Boy Politics" won the Nancy Evans Memorial Award for Texas Writing at TCU in 2001.
Following graduation from TCU, Brian entered the Baylor School of Law where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2005. He was a Senior Executive Editor of the law review. During the course of his study at Baylor, he served as a teaching assistant to Professor David Guinn, his constitutional law professor. Brian established lifelong collegial relationships while at Baylor.
In 2005, Brian clerked for the Honorable H. Dale Cook, Senior Federal District Judge in Tulsa Oklahoma. Judge Cook's judicial temperament proved invaluable to Brian throughout his career. During his clerkship, he was an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Tulsa College of Law. He authored a judicial profile of Judge Cook which was published in The Federal Lawyer in 2008.
Brian relocated to Houston in 2006, to clerk for the Honorable Thomas M. Reavley of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He honed his legal skills to the extent that the judge often referred to him as "Judge Portugal". Judge Reavley's penchant for addressing the specificity of the law in all circumstances had a profound impact on Brian.
Prior to joining the USAO, he was employed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Dallas County Public Defender's Office and Meadows Collier Reed Cousins Crouch & Ungerman. His work as an appellate public defender enriched his understanding of the criminal justice system and taught him a great deal about humility.
Brian considered joining the USAO as one of the proudest moments of his life. He was a consummate student of the law and Board certified in Criminal Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Valued colleagues described him as a go-to person, someone who gave straight answers and sound advice, a lawyer who was wicked smart, a fabulous writer, and who had a clear sense of justice.
Others lauded him for his brilliant legal mind and self-deprecating sense of humor, as helpful and trustworthy, and, whose word was gold. One of his law professors described him as an upright guy who was intensely sincere. Brian made those around him feel respected and self-assured and he thrived on being of counsel to so many other associates. He was a very giving person with a big heart who lived to make a difference in everything he did.
Brian met his bride, the former Shannon Sanders in August, 2007 and they were married on September 25, 2010. They had a shared sense of humor, a love of dogs, good food and fellowship with good friends. They enjoyed traveling and visited Greece, Scotland, England, Canada, and Italy as well as New York City, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, and South Carolina. A favorite getaway was Santa Fe, which they visited numerous times.
Brian was a loyal and abiding friend, a person of unquestioned integrity, and a good man. Creative and talented, he was a fun-loving person with a remarkable sense of recall, a wonderful cook, and a zealous baseball fan. Brian and Shannon were fortunate to watch the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago Cubs play on their home fields. Especially exciting was attending one of Big Papi's final games in 2016.
A lifelong Episcopalian, he was baptized and confirmed at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Dallas. He was a lay Eucharistic minister at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth. For a short time he considered entering the ministry and took courses in the Masters of Theological Studies Program at Brite Divinity School.
Brian was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Earl and Maria Ward of Mesquite, his maternal grandparents, Bill and Jean Burnett of Farmers Branch, and his step-brother, Morgan J. Walker of Paris.
He is survived by his wife Shannon and their beautiful chow, Jane both of Richardson; his father Dr. Joseph S. Portugal and wife Paula of Paris; his mother Donna Allen and husband Bob of Weatherford; his brother, Parker Allen and wife Kaitie of Richardson; his father in-law Marty Sanders and mother in-law Mary Sanders of Richardson; his sister in-law Meghan Franzke, husband Bob and son Riley all of Plano; and, his step-grandmother, Ann Ford of Paris; and numerous other extended family and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at 10:00 am at St. James Episcopal Church, 9845 McCree Road in Dallas, Texas 75238. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Brian's honor to the Austin Street Center, P. O. Box 710729, Dallas, TX 75371-0729 or Audubon Dallas, P. O. Box 12713, Dallas, Texas 75225.
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