Kathleen (Kathy) Fortine, whose talent catapulted her from the Hart High School band room (Chieftains, Class of 1977) to a career as an Emmy-winning musical director, died Friday, according to her father, Bruce Fortine, president of the College of the Canyons Board of Trustees. She was 56.
Bruce Fortine wrote the following Facebook message:
Friday night with one phone call became the worst night of my life: “Hello, is this Bruce Fortine, the father of Kathleen Fortine? Yes, I am. This is Officer “Smith” of the Burbank Police Department. Sir, I’m so sorry to inform you that your daughter has passed away.” With those words, the weight of the world crashed down upon me…
In the next few hours we had more conversations. He was understanding, compassionate and caring and wanting to ease my grief. The perfect person to be working with me.
Words can’t begin to tell you what a wonderful daughter Kathy Fortine was, so I’ll save that for another time. She was a proud graduate of Wm. S. Hart High School and attended Pepperdine University where she studied music and then transferred to California State University Long Beach where she graduated with a degree in Television Production. She started at the bottom of her industry as a page for the CBS show “WKRP in Cincinnati.” She worked hard and developed a long resume of credits which earned her an impressive list of Emmy nominations and awards. Two of those awards included her music directing of the Academy Awards Show and the Emmy Awards. In the last few years she worked on the Rick Dees late night show for ABC-TV and currently with the Jimmy Kimmel Show for ABC/Disney on Channel 7. She was an A-List director and had the respect and admiration of her peers. Everyone wanted to work with Kathy.
Gloria and I are devastated by this and appreciate the outpouring of sympathy, kindness and love from all of you.
According to the county coroner’s office, Kathy Fortine died of natural causes stemming from idiopathic epilepsy. Funeral arrangements are pending. A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary, 23287 N. Sierra Hwy., Newhall.
Hart High Chieftains, 1977. Kathy Fortine is front row, second from left. Flute, rhythm section.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Feb. 22, 2016, courtesy of Anne Hendrickson
From DGA:
Kathleen M. Fortine
Associate Director
Jimmy Kimmel Live; Miss America Live ’08; RockStar (INXS & Supernova); Survivor Finale; Apprentice(finale); The Contender Finale; Thanksgiving Halftime Show; 70th -74th Academy Awards; 51st-54th Emmy Awards; Grammy Awards; Latin Grammy Awards (’03-’05); ACMA’s; Golden Globes PreShow (’03-’05); 911 Concert for NYC; Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (’94-’97); Jamie Foxx Special; Home for the Holidays; Target Stars on Ice (’00-’01); Image Awards; Essence Awards; Evening of Stars (’99-’02); Entertainment Tonight.
From imdb.com:
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
2009-2016 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series)
2009 American Idol (TV Series)
2008 The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour (Video)
2008 Last Comic Standing (TV Series)
2008 Miss America Pageant (TV Special)
2006 Jimmy Kimmel Live’s All-Star Salute to Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Movie)
2006 Rock Star: Supernova (TV Series)
2004 Survivor (TV Series)
2001 You Don’t Know Jack (TV Series)
Production manager
1995 Jerry Lewis Stars Across America (TV Special)
1993 The Road to Hollywood (TV Movie documentary)
Crew
2001 The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV Special)
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46 Comments
RIP and condolences to family, friends, and loved ones.
Bruce, on behalf of Job’s Daughter’s Bethel No. 249 Newhall, please accept our condolences.
RIP
Please accept my condolences don’t know your daughter but felt so sadly for you.
Condolences to the family!
So sorry. May she Rip
Bruce we are so very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers
That sucks
Did not know the lady, do not know her family but my condolences to you at this time, may her life and acomplishments be a source of joy to you, and may you find confort in faith.
How sad. Sending thoughts and prayers for her family and friends
Condolences ..she was much too young!!
She was a talented and beautiful young lady and a good friend. We shared many experiences in band at Placerita and Hart. You have our prayers and condolences.
I’m so sorry. God be with her family and friends.
Sincere condolences to Bruce and his family. So heartbreaking.
So sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss Fortine family. The Hughes Family. May she rest in peace..
So very sorry for her loss. Parents shouldn’t outlive their children.
My condolences to the Fortine family. I went to high school with Kathy. She was an energetic student and a talented musician.
So sorry to hear of Kathy’s passing. Prayers for her family for comfort and strength. May she rest in peace.
So sad…prayers…
May condolence for this butiful woman
She had a loving heart, a beautifull kind soul, a tout de force of talent. I am honored that we were best friends throught junior and higg school. My heart is heavy with grief. Prayers to her family and all who loved her.
<3 Love & light to all
Our son, Jeff, worked with Kathy on the Kimmel show and texted us about her passing this weekend. We met her several times, and Bob had her as a student at Hart. I am so sorry for your loss. Kathy was loved by many.
Bruce Cheri and I are so sorry for your loss.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Don and Cheri Fleming
Darrell Bryan. Did you know here?
Yes, I saw the post in a Hart high school group post
Natural causes at 56 :(
Yes, unfortunately it happens
I was fortunate to know,work and become friends with Kathy since her first day in television. Her smile, upbeat attitude, personality and love will ALWAYS be with me. She will be missed immensely by so many people. Condolences to her entire family. May she rest in peace.
My most sincere condolences, I was lucky enough to have Kathy at my side for many shows I Directed, she was a gem and one of the kindest people I ever worked with.
Sorry Bruce & Gloria. Too young to leave this world, may she rest in peace.
Bruce, I am at such a loss for words regarding the news of your daughter’s passing…So very sorry to hear such devastating news…What an amazing and wonderful person Kathy was, to have earned such an outstanding reputation in a very demanding business…and what a gift she must have been to all the people lucky enough to have had her in their lives…I am deeply saddened by the news and admire your strength in sharing your feelings with all of us…I wish I had just the right thing to say…but I don’t know what those words would be…Please know that Valerie and I will be keeping you and Gloria and your entire family in our closest thoughts and prayers, and hoping that the strength of your family can help guide you all through this very difficult and sad time…Kathy was obviously a very special person, and she will remain so in the hearts of all who knew her… Looking forward to seeing you soon, as always…
So sad condolences to the family
Mr. & Mrs. Fortine,
I only know of your daughter through a friend whose husband worked with her on JKL. My friend’s devastation at learning of Kathy’s passing speaks volumes to me about what a bright and shining light she was in the worlds of those who knew and loved her.
I will be 50 in May and it hits very close to home to learn of otherwise healthy women my age dying suddenly.
Know that a vast community that knew her and some of us who didn’t are sharing in your grief and sending our most comforting thoughts to you, your wife, and all who knew and loved your daughter.
Sincerely,
Victoria
Blessing to all in this devastating time. God Bless
I’m so sorry for your loss, may she rest in peace. You will meet again. God Bless
Kathy was an incredibly kind and loving person with the most positive attitude. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with her, and, unlike most of us, no one ever said anything but the best when referring to Kathy. That’s pretty amazing! My condolences to you and your family, but please know that her kindnesses and talent will live on in our memory.
May you RIP Kathy
My condolences to such a talented woman and beautiful woman. So young.
Praying for her family!!!!!!
Dave Haendle Gary Reynolds I’m guessing you knew her since your picture is in the article.
Yes, I knew her. Very sad!
All my thoughts and prayers are with you. I worked with Kathy for a very long time and I will miss her forever.
Rest in peace my sweet cousin. You were an amazing person.
Oh my , words can not express the sorrow I feel. Kathy was a wonderful person!!! Bruce, Rick & Yovone (?) I am so very sorry for your lost!! You are all in my prayers !! God bless and love