Industry Says Goodbye to Fifth Avenue Retailer

Alan Fortunoff — credited for evolving a modest Brooklyn housewares store into an elegant Fifth Avenue proprietor of jewelry and home furnishings – died Tuesday, in his Old Westbury, N.Y., home. Fortunoff, president and chief executive of the family-run Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware, was 67.

Although the store was founded by parents Max and Clara, in 1922, Alan Fortunoff was said to be the chief motivator behind its 1964 move to Westbury, N.Y. Subsequently, Alan and his sister Marjorie opened three more stores in New Jersey. In 1979 they opened the Manhattan store. Fortunoff became president of the retail company after Marjorie's death in 1983.

Described as a down-to-earth, quiet man Fortunoff apparently, was also a shrewd entrepreneur. Five years ago he put the business on the Internet.

He is survived by wife Helene and six children – five of which are involved in the Fortunoff stores today.