Anthony P. Fortino | Company executive, 80

Anthony P. Fortino, 80, formerly of Huntingdon Valley, a retired chemical company vice president, died of heart failure Jan. 4 at the Pennswood Village retirement community in Newtown Square.

Mr. Fortino joined the Pennsalt Chemical Corp. in 1951 in Kentucky. In 1964, he was transferred to Philadelphia. Five years later, the company became the Pennwalt Corp., and it was Elf Atochem when Mr. Fortino retired as vice president of personnel in 1991. It is now Arkema Inc., a diversified chemical manufacturer.

A native of Easton, Pa., Mr. Fortino earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Lafayette College. After World War II, he served in the Army in occupied Japan.

Since 1953, he had been married to Helen Leah Fortino. They met while performing in summer stock in Kentucky. While their children were growing up in Huntingdon Valley, Mr. Fortino coached youth baseball.

After moving to Pennswood Village in 2000, he and his wife returned to acting, performing in play readings at the retirement community. The couple had traveled all over the world and sailed on more than 40 cruises, their daughter Katherine Johnson said.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Fortino is survived by a son, C. Phillip; daughters Marguerite and Nancy; a brother, two sisters; and five grandchildren.

Services were private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bucks County SPCA, Box 277, Lahaska, Pa. 18931. Mr. Fortino loved animals and was devoted to his teacup poodle, Toodles, Katherine Johnson said.