Alan Richard Fortner

Alan Richard Fortner, Sr., 85, of Cottageville, entered into eternal rest Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Colleton Medical Center. Born March 25, 1939, in Berwyn, Illinois, he was the son of the late Otto Fortner and Emily Anne Dvorak Fortner.

Al earned his chemistry degree from North Central College of Illinois. For over three decades, he worked as an environmental chemist for the National Marine Fisheries Service which is part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and published some of that research in international outlets. He was an important member of the team that moved from the lab in College Park, Maryland, to establish the new federal lab on James Island (1976-78). Some of his many hobbies were cooking, philately, coin collecting, fishing, camping, beekeeping, gardening, maintaining fresh and saltwater aquariums, reading science fiction and mysteries, and exploring historical sites. He was an entrepreneur who owned several businesses including the Calvert Aquarium in Maryland, and the Garden of Eden in Charleston. He was an accomplished woodworker and was one of the early leaders of the Charleston Crafts Cooperative. Al especially enjoyed collecting, hybridizing, growing, showing, and sharing orchids. He became known as Charleston’s “Orchid Man” through his involvement in the Charleston Farmer’s Market and was invited by several organizations to speak on orchids.

Surviving are: his wife of eighteen years, Cheryl McNeill Fortner of Cottageville; sons, Alan Fortner, Jr., and his wife Lynn of Mount Pleasant, Scott Fortner and his wife Celeste of Ladson; daughter, Cheryl Ann Fortner of Rock Hill; 7 grandchildren, Kris (Sheri), Emily (Jonathan), Bobby (Ashley), Samuel, Olivia, Coby, and Pierce; 6 great-grandchildren, Audrey Mae, Jethro, Dorothy, Aliza, Jonah, and Nolan Alan; and brother-in-law, Bob Bassett.

Preceding Al in death is his brother, Ronald Fortner.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to the Parkinsons Foundation, 5757 Waterford District Drive, Suite 310, Miami, Florida 33126; or to the Dementia Society of America, Post Office Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901.

There are no services scheduled at this time.

The BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, South Carolina, 29488.  Visit the guestbook online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.