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Theresa Adelaide Valentine Fortino was born in Portland, October 5, 1921 to Albert and Louise Valentine. Albert and Louise divorced right on the cusp of the Depression. Terry and her older sister, Mary spent their early childhood at the Christy Home run by the Holy Name sisters. When their mother remarried, Terry and Mary returned home and attended Lincoln High School.
After graduating from high school, Terry attended St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing affiliated with the University of Portland. Upon graduation, Terry enlisted in the U.S. Army Nursing Corps. She did basic training at Fort Lewis and then went to Oakland, California, awaiting orders for deployment. Finally, she embarked on a long three month sail to the Philippines where she served in a post-MASH unit attending U.S. soldiers and Japanese prisoners of war.
Terry returned to Portland after the war. Her parents were living in the Westmoreland neighborhood in S.E. Portland right down the street from the Fortinos. Louis Fortino had also just returned from his naval service in Okinawa and Iwo Jima and Terry’s mother liked him very much. Terry and Lou met at the St. Agatha Church picnic and on June 14, 1947 married and spent 68 eventful years together. Frank, Margaret, Carol, Jeanine and Mary are the products of this union and were the focus of Terry and Lou’s lives.
While the children were young Terry worked part-time at St. Vincent Hospital and then took on more hours as the kids went off to college. She and Lou retired in 1984 and spent their retirement traveling and playing golf. Throughout her life, Terry volunteered with various organizations, such as the Cub Scouts, 4-H, Holy Trinity Food Closet, Meals on Wheels, St. Francis Dining Hall, the Paesano Club and the University of Portland Alumni Association.
Terry’s most fervent avocation was the Oregon Nurses Association. She often served at the negotiation table, trying to raise the stature and the value of the nursing staff. When neither side could agree on terms, Terry’s home became strike headquarters and she hand-delivered the strike notice to the hospital administrator.
In addition to her children, Terry also leaves behind her grandchildren, Jason and Jordan Matin, Lauren, Jessica and Lisa Fortino and Louis, Cecilia and Julia Atkins.
Her husband; and two grandsons, Louis Fortino and Max Atkins, predecease Terry.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13715 S.W. Walker Rd., Beaverton, OR 97005.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Oregon Food Bank, St. Mary’s Home for Boys or charity of your choice.
Funeral Mass
11:00 AM ,Saturday, November 4, 2017
Holy Trinity Catholic Chuch
13715 SW Walker Road Beaverton, Oregon 97005
One reply on “Theresa Fortino”
My deepest sympathy to each of you for your loss. Our Heavenly Father gives us sound reasons for hope in the resurrection. We have his word that the dead will rise, stand up again to life. His purpose regarding all who are asleep in death is sure to be fulfilled.
Isaiah 55:11
Luke 18:27
Psalms 37:29
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