Thomas Fortie,, Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)

Thomas Max Fortie, Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)

1926 -2015

Thomas Max Fortie, known to family and friends as Max, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Cottonwood Heights on November 10, 2015. Max was an only child, born to John Stewart Fortie and Ruth Ingeborg Hanzon on August 15, 1926. He married Marlene C. Casimer of South Bend, Indiana on September 1, 1956, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on November 1, 1957. He is survived by his wife, Marlene, children Cheryl Lyn Bottorff (Allen), Jeffrey Stewart Fortie (Cynthia), and Peggy Jill Blew (Robert), Grandchildren: Natalie Adams (Christopher), Brian Fortie (Lynette), Tom Fortie (April), Krystel Fortie, Mindy Allred, Jeremy Fortie (Brandi), Liam Cochran, Brenden Cochran, Cameron Cochran, and Caitlyn Blew, great-grandchildren: Emma Fortie, Kaitlyn Fortie, Ethan Fortie, Trevor Fortie, Logen Fortie, Parker Fortie, Bronson Fortie, Carson Fortie, Devynn Dwyer, and Dalton Adams a nd ten great-grandchildren.

When Max was 10 years old he came down with infantile paralysis, now known as polio. He was told that he would never walk again but after a blessing he improved greatly, to the point that he was even able to spend 20 years as a basketball official in Nevada and Utah. He was also a scorer in the Wasatch Scorers Association and an active fencer with foil, epee, and saber. He graduated from East High School, the University of Utah, and Columbia College with B.S. and M.A. degrees. He was active in many campus organizations and was a member of Kappa Sigma, Owl and Key, professional music, and honorary fraternities.

Max served in the Army on active and reserve duty during WW II, Korea, and Vietnam, retiring as a Colonel with 32 years of service. He was active in the LDS church, where he was a High Priest and held many stake and ward assignments, as well as serving three years of the LDS Sunday School General Board and 11 years in the Jordan River Temple. He was also active in the community and served many years on the board and as the president of the Utah Council of Camp Fire Girls.

Early in his life, Max developed a love for theater, especially musicals, and had collected more than 475 original cast albums on vinyl, cassettes, and CDs. He started early in the entertainment field himself, playing trombone in dance bands while in high school and college. In his 30 years in television, he produced and/or directed many TV programs, films, and stage productions. Max had many film and stage credits, as well as credits on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS networks. He also earned many television awards and was a judge for the Emmys one year.

Max started a third career in 1980 in federal court security as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal and a contract manager for the Marshal Service, serving for 16 years.

In 1998 after finally retiring, Max returned to music and played trombone with the Beehive British Brass Band, two dance bands, a jazz swing band, the Letter Carriers band, and occasionally with concert bands and orchestras.

Funeral services will be held at the LDS Chapel at 2895 E. Creek Road, on Monday, November 16, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. There will be viewings Sunday at 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Cannon Mortuary and Monday 10:00-10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment with military rites will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Flowers may be sent to Cannon Mortuary.
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