Steve Fortun

Steve Fortun passed away April 4, 2006 of complications from cancer. He died quietly at home surrounded by his family. He was 52.

Steve was born March 6, 1954 in Portland, Ore. He started his career in the food service business in 1970. He worked for The Schwartz Brothers Restaurant Group, working his way up to management and eventually to ownership with The Schwartz Brothers Sandwich Shop & Pie Place division.

Steve became co-owner of Stockpot Soups, helping grow the company to become one of the largest fresh food companies in the world. Steve and his brothers sold Stockpot Soups in 1998 to Campbell’s Soup Co.

Steve and his wife retired to La Quinta, Calif., in 2001. Steve and his brother, Kevin, opened the Desert Sage Restaurant there.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Janet A. Fortun, of La Quinta; brothers, Kevin G. Fortun of La Quinta and Mike L. Fortun of Friday Harbor; sisters, Linda Conklin of Woodinville and Mary Shepard of Portland Ore.; nine nieces and nephews; and parents, Nancy and Leonard of Portland, Ore.

A service will be held at The Chapel at Roche Harbor on April 22, 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, send remembrance to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 19024, J5-200, Seattle, WA. 98109. Call (800) 297-1618.

— The Steve Fortun family