Alan E. Fortas of Memphis, author of Elvis: Memphis to Hollywood, a book about his long association with Elvis Presley, died of cancer Wednesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 56. Services will be at noon today at Sam Abraham Chapel with burial in Baron Hirsch Cemetery. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Fortas's book, published in late July by Poplar Culture Ink. of Ann Arbor, Mich., contains rare photographs collected during Fortas's years as a member of the group close to Presley called the Memphis Mafia. Presley and Fortas became friends after being introduced at Graceland in the 1950's, and he worked for Presley until after the singer's 1968 comeback television special. Fortas left because of the heavy traveling involved, but remained friends with the entertainer until his death in 1977. "Alan was really a nice man. He was very loyal," said Col. Tom Parker, Presley's former manager. Fortas was vice president of Carty & Co. Inc., an investment company where he had worked since 1979. He was a nephew of the late Supreme Court justice Abe Fortas. Fortas was a member of Baron Hirsch Congregation. He leaves a son, Miles Fortas of Memphis, and a brother, William E. Fortas of Scottsdale, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, the family request that any memorials be sent to Baron Hirsch Synagogue, the American Cancer Society or the charity of the donor's choice. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 9/24/1992)
Alan E. Fortas of Memphis, author of Elvis: Memphis to Hollywood, a book about his long association with Elvis Presley, died of cancer Wednesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 56. Services will be at noon today at Sam Abraham Chapel with burial in Baron Hirsch Cemetery. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Fortas's book, published in late July by Poplar Culture Ink. of Ann Arbor, Mich., contains rare photographs collected during Fortas's years as a member of the group close to Presley called the Memphis Mafia. Presley and Fortas became friends after being introduced at Graceland in the 1950's, and he worked for Presley until after the singer's 1968 comeback television special. Fortas left because of the heavy traveling involved, but remained friends with the entertainer until his death in 1977. "Alan was really a nice man. He was very loyal," said Col. Tom Parker, Presley's former manager. Fortas was vice president of Carty & Co. Inc., an investment company where he had worked since 1979. He was a nephew of the late Supreme Court justice Abe Fortas. Fortas was a member of Baron Hirsch Congregation. He leaves a son, Miles Fortas of Memphis, and a brother, William E. Fortas of Scottsdale, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, the family request that any memorials be sent to Baron Hirsch Synagogue, the American Cancer Society or the charity of the donor's choice. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 9/24/1992)
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