Mario “Sam” Fortino, DDS
Age 88, of East Lansing, passed away January 13, 2012. He was born January 14, 1924, in Alma, MI, the son of Michael and Giovanna Fortino.
Sam served in the U.S. Navy (officer training) in 1942 during World War II, and in the U.S. Army as a dentist during the Korean War. He played basketball for Alma High School, the University of Detroit and MSU and was the Spartans leading scorer from 1944-46. He was past president of the MSU Alumni Varsity Club, a member of the Michigan Dental Association and a 50-year member of the Country Club of Lansing. Sam worked as a dentist in the Lansing area for 37 years and was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Sam was preceded in death by his first wife, Olga “Penny” Fortino, in 1990, and is survived by their 4 children, Linda (Mark Greenstone) Fortino, Nancy (Eric) Bates, Robert (JoDee) Fortino and Susan (Jeffrey Brown) Fortino; 9 grandchildren, Lia, Andrew (Lyndsay), Alexis, Michael, Sara, Evan, Alexandra, and Olivia; brother, Dr. Silvio (Silena) Fortino; and many loving nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his second wife Eileen and her 4 children and grandchildren. Sam was also preceded in death by his brother Alfred Fortino and 2 sisters, Marion Aquino and Betty Metz.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Mark J. Inglot at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton, East Lansing, MI. The Rite of Committal will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Alma. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday with a Rosary to be prayed at 7:00 p.m. at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. Visitation will also take place 1 hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heartland Hospice or the YMCA.
12 Messages to “Mario “Sam” Fortino, DDS”
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Lisa Stelter
January 14, 2012 at 8:25 pmMy thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Burt and Joan Brown
January 15, 2012 at 1:55 pmOur heartfelt sympathy to the entire family. Sam was a great guy, but sorry we didn’t know him longer as we enjoyed him so much.
Tim Guyselman
January 16, 2012 at 11:46 amSorry to hear of Sam’s passing. He was a great guy. My thoughts are with the family at this time of sorrow.
Donald J. Ristow
January 16, 2012 at 1:09 pmDr. “Sam” Fortino – News of your passing brings sorrow to this heart, yet joy in the fond memories of being a patient and a friend. I so enjoyed our warm, yet limited conversations in between the hum of your drill. Our occasional visits at the Lansing Country Club and especially the time we met at a favorite watering hole in Houghton Lake. You were excited to show off my new two front teeth to the dental colleague you were with, a Sam Fortino masterpiece. My friend, throughout the years I had the privilege of knowing you, you had the respect and admiration of everyone who came into contact with you. So few are granted so warm a personality and so fine an intelligence. I will miss you but never forget you. To your loved ones, my wife, Jeanette, joins me in extending our deepest and sincerest sympathy.
The Ristows,
Jeanette & Donald
Lakewood Ranch, FL
juli spagnuolo ortegon
January 16, 2012 at 8:53 pmour deepest sympathies to the family. he was my moms dentist. and we appreciated him for how nice and comforting he always was
Lewis Rabb
January 16, 2012 at 11:35 pmI am very sorry for the family’s loss. As a teen, the nights I spent at the Fortino home were ones to remember. Mr. Fortino was fun to be around and he will be missed.
Joie and Marty West
January 17, 2012 at 1:39 pmOur thoughts and prayers are with all of you. He was a great man and he has a great family.
Our love to you all.
Marilyn and Joe Shields
January 17, 2012 at 2:35 pmWe only knew Sam in his latter life and throughly enjoyed visiting with him in northern Michigan. His strong family will have many good memories.
Chris Hagan
January 18, 2012 at 6:27 pmI grew up next door to Sam. He was always nice to me as a kid and taught me a lot about basketball and life. He will be missed.
Kelly Rippon
January 18, 2012 at 7:48 pmNancy, Eric, Evan and family, my deepest sympathy. What honorable and impressive achievements were made by your father, Nancy. How blessed you are to have had a father that was so worthy of your pride. My prayers are with your family, my friend. I miss you.
Kelly
Patricia and Justin English
February 16, 2012 at 2:10 pmWe both have fond memories of Sam. He was our dentist years ago, when we lived in Lansing, was very interested in getting us together as a couple. I smile when I think of that. Such an enthusiastic, up-beat person – a joy to know. We will say a prayer for him and for all of you
SUZY ROGERS
March 20, 2014 at 11:04 pmI KNOW THIS COMES LATE, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT FROM ONE OF HIS FAMILY. I WORKED AS HIS DENTAL ASST, AND I DEEPLY RESPECTED AND LOVED HIM AS A GREAT MAN. I MOVED AWAY AS I GOT MARRIED. STAYED OUT OF STATE FOR 32 YRS., IM NOW BK IN MICH LIVING. SEE I LOST MY FATHER THE SAME YEAR, ROBERT ROGERS. DAD KNEW DR. THATS HOW I GOT MY JOB. SO FOR 5 YEARS I HAD THE WONDERFUL PREVLEGE TO WK WITH HIM. I DIDNT KNOW OF HIS PASSING, AND I WAS HERE TOO. SO LET ME SAY WITH TEARS OF SADNESS HOW MUCH I MISS HIM. THE WONDERFUL THING I CAN SAY IS THAT HE IS WITH MY FATHER AND CATCHING UP ON FISH STORIES. BOTH OF THERE LOVES. WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS TO ALL OF YOU. SUZY ROGERS