07/17/08 - NNHS Newsletter - Paul Orphanidys

Apollon George Orphanidys
(15 May 1914 - July 2008)

Newport News High School Class of  June 1932

May his memory be eternal.

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

   Sad tidings continue to arrive.  Beloved local dentist     Dr. Paul Orphanidys, Class of June 1932, has passed away in his home in Newport News at the age of 94.


From the Daily Press - 07/17/08:

                                   Apollon George Orphanidys
 
      NEWPORT NEWS - At the age of 94, Dr. Apollon (Paul) George Orphanidys died peacefully in his own home. He passed into eternal life surrounded by his loving and adoring family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Egnatios and Olga Orphanidys, and his brother, George Arony Orphanidys.

Dr. Orphanidys was born on May 15, 1914, on the island of Mytilini, Greece. In 1920, the Orphanidys family settled in Newport News. Dr. Orphanidys graduated from Newport News High School, and went on to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a pre-dental student. At VPI, he was a member of the Cadet Corps in the Coast Artillery and represented his battery in the annual drill as "Best Drilled Cadet."
 
 
 

In 1934, Dr. Orphanidys matriculated at the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry, where he was a member of the Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity. He served on the staff of the college newspaper and played on the baseball and basketball teams. He also participated in horse racing events at Deep Run Hunt Club in Richmond, winning such prestigious awards as the blue ribbon and silver cup.

Dr. Orphanidys received his DDS in 1938. After graduation, he worked for the Virginia Health Department for two years, traveling through the state administering dental treatment to rural school children. He opened his dental practice in Newport News in 1939 and successfully maintained it until his retirement shortly before his 90th birthday. He adored his patients and staff, considering them to be his second family.

Dr. Orphanidys served his country as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, stationed at Langley Field and then at Fort Moultrie, S.C. He was one of eight select progressive thinkers appointed by the governor to organize a non-profit dental insurance company, the Virginia Dental Services Plan, serving as its president. Today, the company is known as the highly successful Delta Dental Plan of Virginia.

Throughout his career, Dr. Orphanidys was a firm believer in continuing education, ensuring that he used the most advanced and innovative techniques. He was a fellow of both the Virginia Dental Association and the American College of Dentistry. He presided over various organizations, including the Peninsula Dental Society, the Mental Health Association, the Mental Health Clinic Board and the Community Health Coordinating Committee. Additionally, he was a member of the Peninsula Health Planning Council, the Virginia Dento-Legal Committee, the Family Counseling Committee for Newport News Public Schools and the Kiwanis Club. He attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church and later St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, serving as president of the St. Andrew's Episcopal Men's Club. In 1949, he joined Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, serving on its parish council and chairing its annual Greek Festival.

Among his many interests were gardening, reading, hiking, discussing politics, attending cultural events, playing the harmonica and winning at Scrabble. Most importantly, Dr. Orphanidys enjoyed spending time with his family. He also had a special group of cherished friends who shared a 47-year bond, playfully referring to themselves as the "choir group." He was an avid Redskins fan who never missed watching or listening to a game, and he had a terrific sense of humor-he could entertain an entire room with his jokes. His zest for life and learning was contagious and never ceased. And yet for all his accomplishments, he was a humble man who rarely accepted public recognition for his work.

He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 61 years, Katie, and his four children, Dr. George Orphanidys; Helen Arnold and her husband, Dr. Fred; John Orphanidys and his wife, Jeanna; and Diane Herman and her husband, Marty.

He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Dr. Paul Arnold and his wife Stephanie; Matthew Arnold; Nicholas Arnold; Joshua Orphanidys; Katie Orphanidys; Aletheia Orphanidys and his great-grandchildren, Jack Apollon Arnold and William Attileo Arnold. In addition, he leaves behind numerous nephews, nieces and cousins in the United States, Greece and Australia.

A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Newport News. The family will receive guests immediately following the prayer service. The funeral service will also be held at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, with the Rev. George Chioros and the Rev. Peter Makris officiating. Following interment at Peninsula Memorial Park, guests are invited to return to the Hellenic Community Center in Newport News for the traditional Makaria memorial luncheon.

Arrangements are being made by Riverside Altmeyer Funeral Home in Newport News. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to: Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic, 2276 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Hayes, VA 23072; or The Boys and Girls Club of the VA Peninsula, 11825 Rock Landing Drive, Chesapeake Building, Suite B, Newport News, VA 23606.
View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in the Daily Press on 7/17/2008.
Guest Book

 


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   Our deepest sympathies and prayers are extended to the entire Orphanidys family and their many friends.


    This information is also included here:

http://www.nnhs65.com/SITE-MAP.html

     http://www.nnhs65.com/our-physicians-and-dentists.html

          http://www.nnhs65.com/dentists.html

               http://www.nnhs65.com/dent-A-G-Orphanidys.html


   Y'all take good care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER!

                          Love to all, Carol

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NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================

Carol Buckley Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 29311-9305
910-488-9408


In You Rejoice
(O Tebi Radujetsja)

Liturgy of St. Basil - Tone 6

(English adaptation by Edward Sedor)


All creation rejoices in You,
O You who are full of grace,
the host of angels and all mankind.
O holy temple and spiritual paradise,
the glory of virgins,
from whom God was made flesh and became a little Child,
and is our God before all ages.

For He made You womb His throne,
and more spacious than the heavens.
All creation rejoices in You,
O You who are full of grace,
glory to You.


"In You Rejoice (O Tebi Radujetsja)" midi and lyrics courtesy of http://www.saintmichaels.info/music/ - 03/30/05

(Downloadable Sheet Music available at http://www.saintmichaels.info/music/pdfs/In-You-Rejoice.pdf - 03/30/05)

Icon of Christ courtesy of http://www.goarch.org/en/multimedia/audio/ – 03/30/05

Icon of the Ascension of Christ courtesy of http://www.goarch.org/en/resources/clipart/ - 03/30/05

Animated Army Flag clip art courtesy of http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/KevsGifsGalore/Patriotic.html - 06/18/03

Byzantine Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/artmuseum/news/fall2000/interview.html - 03/30/05

Virginia Dental Association Logo courtesy of http://198.65.229.210/public/direct_reimb_pub/direct_reimb_pub_intro.html - 07/17/08

American College of Dentistry Logo courtesy of http://www.smilegreensboro.com/Meet_Dr._Mike.html - 07/17/08

Kiwanis Club Logo courtesy of http://www.ekiwanisofgreateratlanta.org/ - 07/17/08

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