George Joseph Fortunato

George lived a long, joy-filled life, despite all odds working against him from the time he was born. Throughout his life, he was surrounded by family, friends, and friends who became family. If you ever met George during your travels through life, consider yourself his friend, too.

George was born on May 20, 1937 in Tewksbury, MA. Details of his early life are a bit unclear, but from George’s incredible memory and stories, we know he was raised and predeceased by his grandparents, Joseph and Jennie (nee Raney) Fortunato, and his sister, Cecile “Sissy” Fortunato who he always remembered fondly. George is survived by his sister, Rose Diamond, of Norfolk, MA, whom he loved dearly. George spent his last day on earth with Rose, exchanging belated Christmas presents and holding hands.

Although not having what some might call a “traditional” family, George had several “families” who enriched his adult years.

His work families began to take shape when he started his storied career as a dishwasher at The 88 Restaurant in Manchester. He then became a dishwasher at Memory Lane in 1977 and grew his Mall of New Hampshire family. He worked at Memory Lane until it closed in 1990 and joined a new family as a dishwasher at The 99 Restaurants in Manchester. After nine years there, and 34 years washing dishes, George retired from the restaurant industry.

Then at the ripe young age of 62, he started a new career and added another family - George became a grocery bagger at the Hannaford Supermarket on Bicentennial Drive. George spent 10 years at Hannaford, when he finally decided to officially retire.

Along the way, other families supporting him included his neighbors in various apartments around Manchester, especially those who lived at the Brown School Apartments, where George spent the last ten years of his life.

George’s final family includes the wonderful healthcare workers at the Elliot Hospital and Ridgewood Center in Bedford (including the third flood team and his

roommate Carlos), who helped make the last few months of his life happy and peaceful.

There’s one family in particular that loved George unconditionally - Charlie, Ellen, Emily and Molly Wienberg, and his dear friend, Donna Tetreault. No matter what, this family was always there for George; helping him find safe places to live, making sure he paid his bills, taking him on adventures, and ensuring he had someone to celebrate holidays and birthdays with. Despite never having more than a few dollars to his name, George gave them so much more. George taught this family the true meaning of friendship and acceptance, and that you don’t need to have much in life to live a fulfilling one. With all George taught us, we’ll be eternally grateful.

George’s legacy lives on in print thanks to John Clayton, who featured George in an “In the City” column in The New Hampshire Union Leader, and in his Remembering Manchester: Towering Titans and Unsung Heroes book. To use John’s words that he wrote to celebrate George’s retirement from dishwashing in 1999, “If you haven’t figured it out already, George is a lucky man. Sure, he could be retiring from some big corporate job where they’d be sending him a gold watch and a golden parachute, but he has something more precious than gold. He has friends. No man is richer.”

George will forever be remembered for his trademark phrase of “Oh boy!”, “quick smoke” breaks, his Kahlua Sombreros, his love for riding the city bus and walking around Manchester, his natural talent as a drawer and singer, his incredible memory for remembering dates, and for being a genuinely kind soul.

In lieu of flowers, please consider doing the following: Toast to George the next time you’re with friends, family, or friends who are family. Say more than just “thank you” to the person bagging your groceries and think of George. And especially, if you’re lucky enough to have a George in your life, be forever grateful and tell them you love them.

Funeral services will be held at the Chapel at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 448 Donald Street in Bedford, NH on Friday, January 13 at 11 am. Family and friends are welcome to attend this service to celebrate and honor George.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McHughFuneralHome.com for the Fortunato family.