George Anthony Fortino, 81, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, at Ernestine Raclin House Center for Hospice in Mishawaka.
He was born on Jan. 13, 1940, in Elkhart to Frank and Mary Fortino. George married Sandra Kemble at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bristol, Indiana.
George was co-owner/president of St. John's Business Machine and Fort Wayne Business Products. His companies were in the top 10 of businesses with Cannon Copiers. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Blackhawks. playing golf and fishing. He and his wife wintered in Naples, Florida, where he would play golf or go fishing every day. They also enjoyed listening to jazz music, dancing, hunting and entertaining friends. His greatest love was spending time with his family and friends.
George is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandy; their children Mark (Carol Fournier) Kemble of New Buffalo, Michigan, and Jeanne Sawyer of Elkhart; grandchildren Ross (Amanda) Sawyer of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Alexandra (Andy) Suever of Indianapolis, Indiana; great-grandchildren Leighton Sawyer, Lena Sawyer and Georgia Suever; and his sister, Mary Jo (Jim) Kiefer of Elkhart. George was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Christine "Chrissy" Ann Fortino and his brother Nick Fortino.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, Bristol, IN. Father Robert Van Kempen officiated. Burial at Oakridge Cemetery in Bristol, Indiana.
Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart IN 46514, assisted the Fortino family.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 411 West Vistula Street, Bristol, IN 46507, www.stmarysbristol.com, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.
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| George (1989) |
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| George (2012) |
St. Johns Business Machines
Email: (Click Here)
George was a founding partner of St. Johns Business Machines, acquired by ALCO in 1988. George continued to operate St Johns until 1991 at which time he retired, moved to Naples to spend time playing golf, travel and fish.
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| George and Sandy (April 2012) |
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| 1988 Newspaper Ad |
Sandy and Mr Murase 1990
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| George 1990 |
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| George 1989 |
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| 1989 Cruise |
We discussed many of our good AOP friends, events and trips! He and I were both Canon dealers and shared some of the Canon stories also.
George has sold his Naples home and moved back to South Bend, Indiana.
4 comments:
George was a genuinely wonderful man.
We visited at my home in Raleigh as well as in Naples and I enjoyed him and Sandy very much.
George was a very nice man. He was one of the guys who was very welcoming to us “newbies” at ALCO.
I am sorry to hear the passing of George Fortino.
I remember he's been so gentle and told me a lot of how the business should be.
Jim, sorry to hear this sad news , George was a good friend !
Thx,
Guy
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