Ferdinand (Fred) Fortuno, 70, fell asleep in death on January 8, 2024. His loving wife of 43 years was by his side along with their daughters and sons-in-law. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii he was the second child of Ropino and Erika.

As a military family, most of Fred’s childhood was spent between Germany and Lakewood, WA. After high school Fred worked as a commercial fisherman from Alaska to South America. In pursuit of his seaman’s papers, he enlisted in the United States Navy and ended up seeing the world.

In 1973 as a fisherman in Alaska, he began his search to know God, and in 1979 he found the answers he was looking for by means of a thorough study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was baptized in 1980 and dedicated the rest of his life to helping others know Jehovah too.

Soon after moving to Friday Harbor, Fred met Nancy. They quickly fell in love and were married on November 8, 1980. In the following years, he became Papa to Erica and Lisa, sharing his love of ministry work, boats, fishing, smoking salmon and enjoying nature. He instilled a strong work ethic in them by his example and teaching them how to work.

Fred was well-known on the island for his work as a window cleaner. He also served the community as a volunteer fireman for many years. He always had a love of aviation and eventually realized his dream of flying his own plane. The work he loved most, though, was his volunteer work as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses with its many facets.

The family moved to Na’alehu, Hawaii in 2000, and in 2005 Fred and Nancy moved back to the San Juans. Fred built a beautiful house on Lopez, but they moved back to Friday Harbor in 2008 because that was home to them.

Throughout his 13-year battle with cancer and other major health issues, he was known for his generosity. He loved cooking for others, playing music, making people laugh and sharing the Kingdom message whenever and wherever possible.

Fred is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Erica and her husband Anthony, Lisa and her husband Aaron; sister Theresa and her husband Matt; niece Jennifer and her husband Brent and their children Kyle and Andrea.