Joseph Donald Fortin

Fortin, Joseph Donald HALFMOON Joseph Donald Fortin, 74, died on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at St. Peter's Hospice Inn in Albany. Born in Cohoes on August 30, 1936, he was the son of the late Leo and Simonne B. Temblay Fortin. Mr. Fortin was raised in Crescent and was a member of the first graduating class from Shenendehowa High School in 1954, following which he took employment with the Western Electric Company. In 1959, he enlisted in the Army and served his country in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1962, and returned home and to his job with Western Electric. After a career which spanned more than 43 years in the communications industry, Mr. Fortin retired from Lucent Technologies in the year 2000. He later worked for six additional years with Choice One Communications. He was a member of the Mohawk Post #1450 of the American Legion in Halfmoon and was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Waterford. Mr. Fortin along with his wife Kay, enjoyed volunteering their time to the Mohawk Post #1450 and delivering food to those in need through the Meals-On-Wheels program in Waterford. He enjoyed golfing and obtained his first hole-in-one, last year, at Mill Road Acres in Latham. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, and the times he spent with his family and friends. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Catherine E. "Kay" Harrison Fortin, to whom he was married on November 9, 1963 at St. Patrick's Church in Watervliet; his cherished daughter and her husband, Donna M. (Brian) Zdgiebloski of Lake George; his adoring grandchildren who brought him so much pride and who lovingly knew him as "Pip", Emma Simonne and Ian Michael Zdgiebloski; his dear brothers and sister, Francis (Alice Luther) Fortin of Crescent, Beatrice (late Martin) Christopher of Clifton Park and Robert (Linda) Fortin of Burnt Hills; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Thomas (Phyllis) Harrison of Schenectady, Eleanor (Frank) Miter of Troy, Michael (Mary) Harrison of Melrose and Mary Anne (Jack) Styczynski of Saratoga; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Fortin was predeceased by a cherished infant son, Daniel J. Fortin. Funeral from the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet, on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at 11:30 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Waterford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. David J. Kelley, OSA, pastor. Interment will follow in the Gerald B.H. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Sunday, from 4 until 8 p.m. For those wishing to remember Mr. Fortin in a special way, a contribution to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX, 75265-0309, in his memory, would be appreciated. For directions and for an on-line condolence book, please visit www.parkerbrosmemorial.com.