Leslie Bella Fortier

Passed away Monday morning, April 13, 2015. She was surrounded and supported by her loving family and caregivers during the last days of her life. Born on November 22, 1968 in San Francisco, Leslie grew up with her twin sister, Linda Sonia Fortier and parents, Sonia Bella and Olney Rudolph Fortier. She attended St. Anne Grammar School and St. Rose Academy High School graduating in 1987. Leslie earned her AA Degree at SF City College completing the Hotel and Restaurant Program and graduated from Sonoma State University in 1992 with an English Literature degree. 1992 started Leslie’s teaching career impacting many lives and spanned 22 years. She taught Korean children English at the James Foreign Language Institute in Gumi City, South Korea where she lived from 2009 to 2010. She returned to the US and worked for Karuna, Torn Ranch and Anchor Marine earning several Employee of the Year awards for being an exemplary employee. She taught Sunday school at Calvary Life Christian School in Petaluma taking great pride in teaching children about God. She worked as a social advocate for youths, and helped many Down Syndrome students learn to overlook what others saw and they in turn saw a teacher they loved and adored. Musically gifted, she taught children piano, working at Move Over Mozart Piano School. Leslie ended her teaching career at ELS, (English as a Second Language) where she taught at Golden Gate University. Students cherished Leslie and often referred to her as their “American Mom.”

Leslie is survived by her twin sister, Linda Sonia Fortier-Eason, Brother in Law, Kevin M. Eason, adored nephew, Kevin Olney Eason (KJ), Father, Olney R Fortier, cousins Leslie knew Alina Hartoonian, Lynn Pasquerella, John Kuchle, Keli Lemoi, Spencer Kuchle, Pierce Kuchle, Charlene Ennis, Tina, Ron, Justin and Sophia Galetti and Brenda and Paul Bernier. Students, colleagues, friends and family will miss Leslie dearly. You are home Leslie…..Que Sera Sera.