Dr. John Edward Fortunato

Dr. John Edward Fortunato was born and raised in Philadelphia and Boston. He then plowed through seven institutions of higher education until a kindly older friend told him he was “dying by degrees.” Thereafter, he settled for reading a lot.

John served three years in the U.S. Army (1967-1970), two at Fort Knox and one in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He was awarded a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. During his life, he worked in private practice as a clinical psychologist, as a forensic psychologist at Cook County Jail, and as an Episcopal Chaplain at Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Hospital, Chicago. He was one of the First HIV/AIDS chaplains in the city of Chicago, then served as chaplain to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units at Rush University Medical Center, Cook County Hospital, and the University of Illinois Hospital. Lastly, he served more than a decade with the U.S. Army, was appointed Chief of Behavioral

Health at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, and created a prototype treatment center for soldiers with PTSD. He was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award and was honored with 48 coins by commanders Army-wide. He also accepted two overseas tours, one to Iwakuni, Japan, and then to Vilseck, Germany.

John became a devout Episcopalian in 1974, taking leadership roles in parishes over the ensuing 50 years. He recently served as Administrator, Bishop’s Warden, and Pastoral Leader at St. Francis on the Hill Episcopal Church and as Pastoral Assistant and Administrator of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, both in El Paso. Earlier in his life, between academic pursuits, he lived in religious communities, principally St. Gregory’s Abbey (Episcopal Benedictine) in Three Rivers, Michigan, and Mepkin Abbey (Trappist) in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He observed his monastic vows for the rest of his life.

John was an avid cat father. His household consisted of Teddy and Freddy (adopted siblings in Japan) and Lizzy, an adorable guttersnipe from an El Paso alley. They ended their days together at White Acres Retirement Community, from which the three felines found new homes through the kindness of fellow St. Francis parishioners. John was grateful for the good care and friendships he had at White Acres.

John is survived by a “sister,” Zara Galindo, who cared for him through a bilateral lung transplant and through his time in hospice care until his death. He is also survived by a niece, Amy Fortunato, of Gold Hill, Colorado; a cousin, Jeffrey Marshall, of Wilmington Delaware; a cousin, Maria (Tippy) Cicchini of Ekton, Pennsylvania; and many friends around the world whose companionship he cherished.

Funeral Mass & Burial:

* Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

* Reception will follow

* The service will be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page.

St. Francis on the Hill Episcopal Church

6280 Los Robles Drive

El Paso, TX 79912

915-581-9500

Contributions in John’s name may be made to St. Francis on the Hill or a charity of your choice.