Obituary: Ryan Fortini, Retired NYSP In The Hudson Valley

Ryan Fortini, 42, always wanted to be a police officer because he wanted to help people, his family said. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Fortini put that desire into practice, doing search and recovery work with his New York State Police troop.

On Jan 1., the former Wappingers Falls resident died from illness stemming from his work at Ground Zero.

"He had a set of values he wanted to put into practice," said Fortini's mother Doreen Fortini. "He had a longing to help others, and be the good guy."

During his more than 15 years of service, Fortini was assigned to Troop K and then, Community Narcotics Enforcement Team in the Hudson Valley. He retired from the New York State Police on July 15, 2015, because of his worsening illness, New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said.

Fortini was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts July 27, 1977, to Edwin and Doreen Fortini. He grew up in Burlington, and graduated from Burlington High School in 1995. He wanted to be a police officer since he was very young, his mother said.

At 17, Fortini signed up for the Army National Guard — he thought it would help him become a police officer — and he joined the National Guard's military police. He studied criminal justice, at UMass Lowell, and graduated in three and a half years.

Soon after, in 1999, he joined the New York State Police. After 9/11, the state police rotated groups of troopers into the city to help with search and recovery work, for a few weeks at a time. They stayed in hotels, and dug through debris, recovering bodies and helping with cleanup. According to his mother, the camaraderie of the people around Ground Zero made an impact on Fortini. People who owned restaurants and cafes would serve first responders for free, and clean their uniforms if they needed it.

"He was happy to do it, he never once complained," Doreen said. "The hours were endless, you went on and on."

Fortini was patriotic and appreciated the opportunity to do his part, his mother said.

In 2014, Fortini became sick, with testicular cancer, already very advanced by the time he was diagnosed. Doctors immediately believed the cancer stemmed from his 9/11 recovery work, given his age. He underwent serious chemotherapy and weeks of surgeries but was never healthy again. Two years ago, Fortini and his fiancee moved to Delaware, where they lived on a single floor, so he didn't have to use stairs, and there was no snow for him to shovel.

After he became sick, Fortini wanted to give back, his mother said. Every year, he and McGuire would buy 100s of dollars' worth of toys, and bring them to the hospital's pediatric wing, as Christmas presents. He loved to pay people's checks at the grocery store or in the drive-through line.

"He had the money to give back, and he did that. That made him happy," his mother said. "He was a great kid."

Service arrangements have been set:

Calling Hours: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803.

Funeral Service:Wednesday, January 8, 2020 10:00 a.m., St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803.

From Fortini's obituary with Sullivan Funeral Home:

Those left to cherish Ryan's memory are his parents, Edwin and Doreen Fortini; fiance, Caitlin McGuire; brother, Matthew Fortini (Neela); sister, Joy Wilson (Brian); nieces and nephews, Isabelle Wilson, Caitlin Fortini, Collin Fortini, McKenna Wilson, and Isla and Caden Masiello.

By Christopher Huffaker, Patch Staff. Editor Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report.