In October, the San Diego Gay & Lesbian Times just stopped being printed. The abrupt disappearance of the title was quickly followed up with news the entire staff was let go; nobody had heard from longtime publisher Michael Portantino, who snapped up the brand in 1989, who was rumored to be hospitalized. Now, Portantino, who has a daughter, is dead. Officials suspect he jumped to his death from a seven-story hotel in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Murmurs of Portantino suffering from depression after the collapse of his newspaper are rampant. He was 52.
mike
This is truly sad. I knew Michael and he was always such a sweet guy. My prayers are with his family.
informant
Ironic a much less known younger guy named Raymond portillos Leone jumped to his death as well . I don’t think either of these cases was suicide. They were both associated heavily with nicole Murray ramirez aka the san Diego gay mafia…. I think that’s what really happened jump or ill shoot is the name of this story
TimBo
Such a sad state of events that our economy is in both in the US and here in Canada. That people are resorting to taking their own lives.
It doesn`t solve the problem please people just reach out for help.
whocares
You really need a ‘sad’ option, I want to click that instead of the others on like 80 percent of your articles.
2 cents
And homophobia in our society could have very well played a contributing factor to this tragic story. RIP.