"In a world where you can be anything, be kind. In a world where you can be anything, be like Maria."
Maria’s Story: A Life of Radiance and Resilience
Maria Catherine Fortner lived a life defined by strength, faith, generosity, and joy. To know Maria was to know someone who loved deeply, gave selflessly, and brought light wherever she went.
Maria Catherine Fortner lived a life defined by strength, compassion, faith, and joy. A graduate of Wadsworth High School (2011), The Ohio State University (2015), and Case Western Reserve University’s Anesthesiologist Assistant Program (2019), Maria dedicated her life to caring for others. As an Anesthesiologist Assistant, she brought calm, kindness, and reassurance to patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.
Maria loved her career in the operating room. Her calm, compassionate presence helped patients feel safe during some of their most vulnerable moments. She was deeply respected by her colleagues and truly loved the work she did.
Shortly after beginning her career in 2019, Maria was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after experiencing severe hip pain and suffering a broken femur caused by the cancer. What followed was the beginning of an extraordinary fight. Maria endured aggressive treatments, learned to walk again, and faced every challenge with courage, grace, and unwavering determination.
Maria returned to work after the COVID pandemic and was declared cured in March of 2024. She was thrilled to be back in the operating room doing what she loved.
Just months later, in June of 2024, Maria developed a sore throat and received another devastating diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) — a rare complication of her prior chemotherapy, with only about a 3% chance of occurring. Once again, Maria faced the unimaginable with strength and hope.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant, receiving a life-saving donation from her sister, Olivia. The transplant was successful in eliminating the leukemia, and Maria’s body remained cancer-free. However, despite the success of the transplant, her organs struggled to recover.
After three weeks under intubation and ventilation at University Hospitals, Maria’s medical team slowly began waking her. On April 24, surrounded by her family, Maria opened her eyes. She was calm, peaceful, smiling, and mouthing words to the people she loved most. The next day, April 25, she closed her eyes for the final time as complications from lactic acidosis overtook her body.
Maria was only 32 years old.
But Maria’s life cannot be measured by years. It is measured by the love she gave, the strength she showed, and the countless lives she touched.
Maria had a joyful spirit that drew people in. Her bright smile, contagious laugh, and playful personality filled every room with warmth. She loved spending time with family and friends, discovering new restaurants, planning trips, shopping for antiques, and enjoying a great glass of wine with aged cheese. She made the most incredible charcuterie boards.
She was equally at home when on the water at Lake Buckhorn, where she spent countless days boating, fishing, and laughing with family. She loved music, especially Jimmy Buffett, country songs, and Disney classics. She loved adventure, good conversation, and the simple joy of being together.
But more than anything, Maria was a giver. She cared deeply for others and constantly put their needs before her own. Even while battling cancer, she focused on comforting the people around her — family, friends, fellow patients, and hospital staff alike.
Maria’s faith was the center of her life. She brought people closer to God not through words alone, but through the way she lived — with kindness, courage, gratitude, and love.
Maria’s legacy is not defined by her achievements, her career, or even her incredible fight against cancer. Her legacy is her beautiful soul — the way she loved people, lifted others up, and lived every day with purpose and joy.
Her family believes that Maria’s greatest wish would be for others to continue living life the way she did: with faith, with courage, with generosity, and with a heart open to loving others.
And when life gets hard, they hope people will do what Maria always did — look toward heaven, keep going, and trust that God is guiding the way.
Maria’s story continues through every life she touches.
A Family's Love
The Maria Fortner Foundation was born from a love that spans generations. We invite you to explore this collection of tributes from those who were lucky enough to call Maria family. These stories reflect the many ways she taught us to 'Live Like Maria' through laughter, faith, and a commitment to one another.
Sarah
"Maria showed her unconditional love to us in so many different ways... her love was endless."
Dan
"Maria was more than a sister-in-law; she was a best friend I could talk to about anything."
Olivia
"Maria, you are a big deal—in the best way possible. I have truly never met someone so strong, so beautiful, and such a fun soul."
Lincoln
"Lincoln will see her world-sized love for him in every gift and story his family keeps alive."
Sophia
"Our challenge is to remember Maria’s will to fight, ask her to help you when life gets hard, and keep your eyes fixated on God, just as she did."
Julia
"She showed us that life is about growing in faith—not just through her words, but through how she loved and lived."
Cure for the Curls
The Heart Behind the Warrior
Cure for the Curls was a movement established during Maria’s first battle with cancer, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In unity, and joined in the power of prayer, hundreds joined us to honor and support Maria’s fight.
