Funeral Services Today For Dr. Charles Fortunato, Toms River Cardiologist

Funeral services for Dr. Charles F. Fortunato, a cardiologist who helped establish Community Medical Center and whose name is on its Cardiac Catheterization unit, are being today and tomorrow in Toms River, accordong to his obituary on the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home website.

Fortunato died Tuesday at home. He was 85.

Visitation is this afternoon from 2-4 and 6-8:30 p.m. at the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River. The funeral Mass is tomorrow morning beginning at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church on Hooper Avenue, with graveside services immediately following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Toms River.

Fortunato was a well-respected cardiologist and practiced in Ocean County for more than 50 years after settling in Toms River with his wife, Charlotte (Sathmary) Fortunato. He served as the associate chief of medicine, chairman of the department of medicine, and chief of the medical staff at Community Medical Center during his career. In October 1990, Community Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab was dedicated in his name and in 1997, he received the hospital’s Excellence in Caring Award.

Fortunato was born in Newark and attended Seton Hall University for his undergraduate work. After graduating from Seton Hall, he headed to Rome for medical school, despite speaking only English at that time. During his medical education in Italy, he became fluent in Italian and developed a deep love of the Italian culture, people, and country, according to his obituary. He returned to the United States to practice cardiology, serving his residency at Newark City Hospital, where he met his wife.

“Charles was an extraordinary husband, father, friend, and mentor. He was known for his kind and friendly disposition, quick sense of humor, sweet tooth, and love of all things Italian. He shared this love with his family and friends,” the obituary said.

Fortunato is survived by his wife of 55 years, Charlotte; his son, David Fortunato, of Toms River; his daughter Lillian Geswelli and her husband Jim of New Vernon: his daughter Paula Fortunato-Redstone of Beverly Hills, Calif.; his three grandchildren: Dylan, Mia, and Cara; and his two sisters, Dolores Cottone and Sondra Fortunato Ogden, both of Toms River.

Condolences may be made by visiting www.andersonandcampbell.com.