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Dear Debbie - I am so sorry to hear about your loss, my heartfelt sympathies are with you. I hope you can be comforted by many happy memories. Karen

Dear Fortini family, Please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences on Mark's passing. Mark was my postdoctoral advisor at Thomas Jefferson from 2011 to 2014. He was a brilliant, yet humble scientist, and took great efforts to mentor his students. He was so passionate about his work, yet maintained a good balance with his other interests (especially Mustangs and Anya). He was always willing and happy to listen, guide or just share a laugh. I will always cherish the time I spent under his tutelage. Hope he is at peace.

I had the great pleasure of serving as Mark's lab chief for a few years at the National Cancer Institute. Mark possessed a remarkable encyclopedic understanding of Drosophila genetics and used that knowledge to great benefit for our trainees in helping them to critically evaluate their own projects, regardless of model system. When our lab chief abandoned the lab for a position in Singapore just months before a site visit, Mark played a key role in helping preserve the lab. I will forever be grateful for his efforts at that time. I was very disappointed, when he decided to leave for Philadelphia, because he provided such life to the lab. As mutually devoted fans of the Flyers, we continued to commiserate on their failings after his relocation. He will be greatly missed.

My sympathy to Debbie, Patricia, Eddie, Beth, Sean and my brother John on Mark's passing. May he Rest in Peace.

Sincere sympathy to Debbie, Eddie, Patricia, Beth , Séan and John on the sad passing of Mark. May his soul rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to Debbie and the extended Fortini family. Mark and I were junior professors together at UPENN Med School. He was a brilliant scientist and great colleague with a fantastic sense of humor. I remember the times that he made us all laugh. He is missed.

Sincere Sympathy to Debbie Eddie Patricia Beth Sean and John on the sad and untimely passing of Mark. May his gentle soul Rest In Peace. Eddie, Nora, Emer & Eamon O’Connor, Kildorrery, Co. Cork.

Sincere sympathy to Debbie, Eddie , Patricia, Beth ,Sean and my brother John and the extended Fortini family. May Mark rest in peace.

Dear Debbie, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Take care! Richard & Caroline

Dear Fortini Family, I am sorry to learn of the passing of Dr. Fortini. I wanted to share the perspective of one of his trainees in the hope that it may provide you with an example of the impact he had on a student. Much of a scientist’s legacy is comprised of the lives of their mentees. Great mentors develop the careers of their trainees and shape their minds for the better. Dr. Fortini was one of those great mentors to me, even if for only a few months. Dr. Fortini welcomed me into his lab at Thomas Jefferson University’s Kimmel Cancer Center in my second summer of college. I had limited bench experience, but Dr. Fortini generously gave me an opportunity to push flies and learn about Notch signaling. That summer laid the foundation for subsequent research opportunities at Jefferson and, importantly, my matriculation into an MD/PhD program. Dr. Fortini took a chance on me and unlocked what I hope will become a lifetime of research. I remember Dr. Fortini as a sharp scientist and a gentle mentor. He was wise in developing projects that were suitable for an undergraduate – my project challenged me to grow, but was within my capabilities. He was generous with his time and lab resources. My fondest impression of Dr. Fortini is that he was remarkably patient in answering questions, even if they were simple or silly. I am grateful to Dr. Fortini for showing me what a great mentor looks like, for fostering my foundational scientific growth, and for being an excellent scientist. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. With kindest regards, Leelabati (Leela) Biswas