Dr. Fortuna’s mother, Karen Fortuna, wrote us, “We were very happy to hear that our son Allen, AJ to us, was chosen as one of Ohio State Optometry’s 2014 Centennial Notables. We thank you for this honor that you have given him.”
“AJ first told us that he was going to be an optometrist when he was 12 years old. We still have the paper he wrote on career day telling of his chosen profession. I don’t know why we kept it, since his career choice changed so many times, but it always came back to this. He was very happy when he was informed that he had been accepted at Ohio State. From the moment he moved into Epsilon Psi Epsilon (the εψεhouse), he knew he found a new family. He made many wonderful friends there, and they have continued to honor him by naming a room after him and also placing a plaque above the doorway of their meeting room. He loved his years spent at The Ohio State University College of Optometry and he loved his εψε family.”
“AJ earned his BS degree in Chemistry from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA before attending Ohio State. His academic and professional achievements earned him membership in the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society. AJ had a great affinity for children with eye problems and those who could not seek proper care due to financial limitations and was looking forward to helping those less fortunate by volunteering his time. Unfortunately this never came to be. ”
“The impact our son had on his peers in his short life has amazed us. They continue to honor him with a Facebook page. We always knew he was special, but it has been a comfort to us to find that others thought so too. I am attaching a picture of the plaque they have hung at the εψε house. Again, we thank you.”