George A. J. Fortin (Pepe), 68, of Naples, ME, died Aug. 14 after crashing his vintage 1946 Taylorcraft airplane. He was born June 2, 1942, the youngest son of Ernest J. and Olivine (Plante) Fortin. He was raised in West Springfield, MA along with his sisters Claire Tremblay, Jeanne (Mrs. Richard Therrien) and the late Lorraine Revay, and a brother, Dr. Ernest J. Fortin.
Pepe is survived by his beloved wife Judith, grandchildren Chris, Georgia and Rachel Shanks and their parents George and Janice (Weaver) Shanks of Naples, ME and step son Roger Weaver of Seattle, WA as well as many nieces and nephews.
George was a lifelong scholar. He was educated at many schools including Boston University, the Sorbonne, University of Madrid, and Middlebury College. He worked for 35 years at Cohasset High School teaching French and Spanish and coordinating many AFS exchanges both here and abroad. He coached tennis and soccer and volunteered for everything at the school. He also worked part-time at Sears and the South Shore Music Circus.
He was a veteran of the Air Force and never lost his love for aviation. An active member of the EAA in both MA and ME, he was often at Cranland and Limington airports volunteering and encouraging the developement of the Young Eagles. He and his friends spent many years rebuilding a PA12 airplane which they sold to pilots from Alaska.This allowed him to not only make great friends, but to fulfill a lifelong dream of flying the PA12 to Alaska.
George was happy, adventurous, and full of life. He was always busy going to various fly-ins, grandchildren's sporting events and activities, snowmobiling, boating, anywhere he was invited!
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Sat. Aug. 28, at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St, Kingston at 1:00PM.Burial following at Evergreen Cemetery, Kingston. A Memorial Service will be held at Limington Airport, ME at a later date.
The George A. Fortin Memorial Fund has been established at Norway Savings Bank, P.O. Box 347. Norway, ME 04268.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.andrewsgreenleaf.com.