S. Joseph Fortunato

S. Joseph Fortunato

Tequesta, FL

S. Joseph Fortunato of Tequesta, Florida and formerly of Madison, New Jersey died peacefully on Friday, January 8, 2016.

Relatives and friends are invited for visitation on Friday, January 15, from 2-4pm and 6-8 pm at the Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main St, Madison, NJ 07940. A service will be held Saturday, January 16 at 11am at Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison.

Joe was born at home in Montclair NJ in 1932 to Sebastiano Fortunato and Josephine Ridolfo Fortunato. He was the adored baby brother of Gaetena and Mary. His parents were among the three Fortunato brothers who married three Ridolfo sisters after emigrating from Sicily to the United States and settling in Montclair. His father was a prominent union leader. His cousin, idol and mentor Angelo "Butch" Fortunato gave him a football when he was six years old, introducing him to the game he loved playing and watching his entire life. He was quarterback at Montclair High School (class of 1950) under Clary Anderson and his cousin Butch Fortunato. He was an All-State back in football, leading Montclair to a series of state championships. An outstanding student as well as an athlete. Joe was offered a scholarship to Yale University and became the first in his family to attend college. Joe played football all four years at Yale and was elected captain for the 1953 season. He was selected All Ivy 1952, AP 1952 All-East Football as a linebacker and AP 1952 All American Honorable Mention. He commented on more than one occasion that he learned the most about life from Yale Football. He graduated in 1954 with a BA in Economics. Yale memberships include the Aurelian Honor Society, St. Elmo Society and Skull and Bones Society. Joe earned his LLB degree at Harvard Law School in 1957. Admitted to the New Jersey Bar, he joined the Newark, New Jersey law firm of Pitney Hardin and Kipp (now Day Pitney) in 1958, becoming partner in 1963. He specialized in labor and employment law. At his time of retirement in 2002 he was a managing partner. Joe married Dian Susan Kimball in 1955 and raised three children Stephen, Michael and Susan in Montclair and later in Lake Valhalla, Montville. Together they skied, played tennis, duplicate bridge and attended many Yale football games with friends. Joe and Dian remained friends after a 1979 divorce, continuing to play golf and vacation with family together. Joe married a second time to Susan Scott; that marriage ended in divorce. In 1967 he was General Counsel on the Governor's Select Commission on Civil Disorder Joe served as an independent director on many of the Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds from 1983-2006. He is a past Vice President of the Federal Bar Association, a past Chair of the Essex County (NJ) Ethics Board, member of the Trustees of the Client's Security Fund from 1979-1983 serving as Treasurer in 1982 and Chairman in 1983. He served on the vestry of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair in the 1960s. He also was a past president of the Yale Club of Montclair, past member of the Board of Overseers of the New Jersey Institute of Technology and past member of the Board of Trustees of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. He is a member of Morris County Golf Club in Morristown, NJ and Jupiter Hills Golf Club in Tequesta, Florida.

He is survived by his children; Stephen (Helen) of San Diego,CA and Princeton NJ and their children David and Susanne; Michael (Ingelise) of Denmark and their children Julie, Jennifer, Jesse and Jonathan; and Susan (Don Carter) of Madison NJ and their children Andrew, Jeffrey and Stephanie Carter. His former wife Dian Kimball Fortunato and his nephews Paul (Kathy) Tyahla, David (Marina) DeMaio and John (Victoria) Tyahla also survive him, as well as several grand-nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Gaetena (Paul Tyahla) and Mary (Vito DeMaio).

The family would like to thank the staff, residents and family of Arden Courts, Whippany for their wonderful care, love and support of Joe and us all these years as well as in the final days. He had a lot of love and fun and laughter in his almost six years there. The family also thanks his long-time caregivers Benjamin and Kenson for their loving care and friendship. A special thanks to his nephew, Paul, for the many hours he devoted to sharing his time, love and pignolis with his uncle. Throughout his life, Joe was a dedicated and loyal friend to all who called him friend from many walks of life. He forged many life-long friendships though Montclair, Yale and work. His ability to always find something to laugh about no matter what helped him through his later years. "You remind me of a man…"

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Fortunato Family Scholarship fund in care of Montclair High School Alumni Association, PO Box 43549, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043. The fund will offer financial assistance to a Montclair High School graduate in memory of Joe Fortunato and two cousins who shared the tradition of MHS football with him, Angelo "Butch" Fortunato, and Kenneth D. Fortunato.