James Malcolm Fortune

JAMES M. FORTUNE

James Malcolm Fortune, 85, an artist whose work reflected the natural world and the imaginary world, died on August 12th of heart failure in Boston, Massachusetts. Jim's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout New England and New York City, including the Worcester Art Museum, the Currier Museum of Art and the Brattleboro Museum. Inspired by images taken from his surroundings and his world travels, Jim would say, "Think of the work as visual poetry that has the capacity to take the viewer beyond themselves."

Jim was born on October 23, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Ruth H. Krodell of New York City and James S. Fortune of Wexford, Ireland. During WWII he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard completing Basic Engineering School and served in Greenland and on the CGC Dexter. Upon returning to the states, he worked for the Public Service Electric Company of New Jersey for fifteen years. In 1950 he married Genevieve M. Baker and they had five children. His family moved to Bridgewater, New Hampshire in 1962 to homestead on an 18th century farm.

Jim graduated as Valedictorian of his class in 1966 from Plymouth State College with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education. In 1969 he received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Earlier teaching positions he held include the Ashland and Bristol Schools in NH and the Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, Massachusetts. He met his wife Peggy (Marguerite A. Houseworth) while they were both students in the Masters of Art Education program at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

In 1984, Jim retired as Associate Professor of Art Emeritus from Plymouth State College in Plymouth, New Hampshire (now Plymouth State University). While at Plymouth, he was a Fulbright Exchange Professor and taught art at the Watford School in Hertfordshire, England. Jim served on the New Hampshire Council of the Arts Board in the 1980's and was an active member of the New Hampshire Art Association. He devoted his days to both working in the studio and planting gardens, orchards and vineyards. He enjoyed spending the last three winters in sunny Florida admiring the wildlife and working in his gardens.

In addition to his wife Peggy of 36 years, Jim's surviving family members include his sister Eileen Fortune Crawford and husband Owen of Winter Park, FL, his son Jay Fortune of Farmington, NH, his daughter Joanne B. Fortune of Greenfield, MA, his son Robert D. Fortune and wife Nancy of Seattle, WA, his son Timothy P. Fortune and wife Sharon of Lincolnville, Maine. His son John W. (Jack) Fortune predeceased him. His grandchildren are Janet M. Fortune of North Brookfield, MA, Caleb James Delisle of Greenfield, MA, and Nick Fortune and wife Melissa of Washington, Maine, and step grandson Logan Sampson of Lincolnville, Maine. He leaves his cousin Florence Parker of Southampton, NJ, nieces, nephew, friends, and family.

There will be a ceremony to celebrate his life on Sat., Aug 24 at 11:00 a.m. in Heritage Commons on the PSU campus in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the Plymouth State University Art Department Endowment Fund or to the Lamson Library Book Acquisition Fund, PSU, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264, or to a charity of one's choice.