James V. Fortuna Business Owner, Naval Petty Officer
James V. Fortuna, 83, owner of Fortuna Graphic Metals, a plaque and trophy company in Wheaton, from 1974 to 2000, and a retired Navy petty officer, died June 23 at his home in Wheaton. He had cancer.
Mr. Fortuna served in the Navy as a lithographer and signalman from 1942 until 1964. He served in World War II and was aboard an aircraft carrier positioned off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
After retiring from the Navy, he worked in the Government Printing Office and then as a recruiter for the Navy Department.
James Vincent Fortuna was a native of Vivian, W.Va., and had been a resident of Wheaton since 1964.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a donor and volunteer at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. From 1974 to 1984, he was a member of the Washington Redskins Touchdown Club, which hosts events for team members.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Frances Petrusky Fortuna of Wheaton; three children, James F. Fortuna of Preston, Md., Jeep Fortuna of Silver Spring and Patricia Grundy of Olney; and seven grandchildren.
