Reverend Father Dean Paleologos has been recognized throughout his life as a clergyman for his outstanding contribution to the enrichment of humanity during an active life of religious service. His selfless dedication and spiritual leadership has inspired the communities he has served and many who have come to know him throughout the years.

Father Dean was born in Peabody, Massachusetts on August 7, 1946 in the bedroom of his parents’ home. He is the son of Reverend Nicholas Paleologos of Blessed Memory and Presbytera Theodora (Talambecos) Paleologos. Father Dean is one of four children, including brothers Gregory of Blessed Memory, Philip, and sister Neia. Throughout his life, he and his family have traveled and been blessed to live in many places. He attended schools in Columbia, South Carolina; Jamestown, New York; Newburgh, New York; Albany, New York; Tulsa, Oklahoma; both McKinley High School and Lehman High School in Canton, Ohio; and ultimately graduated from Marlboro High School in Marlboro, Massachusetts, as president of his senior class. One of the most memorable experiences in his youth was serving as the catcher of the baseball team for Lehman High School in Canton, Ohio. Following in his footsteps was a catcher by the name of Thurman Munson, who later became one of the greatest catchers in New York Yankee history.

In addition, Father Dean held many jobs prior to answering his calling to serve the Lord. One of these included being an assistant to the then Chairman of Macy’s Department Store in Manhattan, Mr. Jack Strauss. While in NYC, he also wrote articles for the Greek National Herald. Other jobs he held throughout his formative years included, working in a leather factory in Peabody, Massachusetts; manager of Charles Cinemas in Boston; bussing tables at a restaurant in Danvers; and even serving as a cleaner for office buildings with the Needham Industrial Cleaners Company. It is safe to say that these jobs were preparing him well for his subsequent life as a clergyman.

Father Dean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Hellenic College in the spring of 1969 and a Masters of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts in June, 1974. In June, 1992 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Worcester State College.

On June 1, 1974 Father Dean married the love of his life Cynthia Kaloyanides of Newton, Massachusetts. Cynthia graduated from Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has been an educator since then serving as a Certified K-8 teacher in many schools of the City of Worcester and her last 15 years at Nelson Place Elementary School.

Father Dean was ordained into the deaconate at Holy Cross Chapel, Brookline, Massachusetts, on September 14, 1974, by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of North & South America of Blessed Memory. Not wasting any time, he was ordained as a priest the very next day at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, honoring the wishes of His Eminence.

On October 1, 1974 Father Dean began his ministry as assistant priest of Sts. Constantine & Helen, Palos Hills, Illinois under the leadership of Father Byron Papanikolaou. After 7 years of service and an opportunity to move back to Massachusetts to be closer to family, Father Dean came to Worcester as the priest of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church on
December 1, 1981- 25 years ago. In 1985, Father Dean was instrumental in facilitating the change of Saint Spyridon Church to Saint Spyridon Cathedral, with Archbishop Iakovos’ blessing.

Father Dean and Presbytera Cynthia are blessed with three children and four grandchildren: son Nicholas married to Zoe Dovras of Worcester, Massachusetts and their children Efrosini & Konstantine; daughter Irene married to Costa Zervoudis of Rivervale, New Jersey and their daughters Angelina & Victoria; and daughter Christen residing in Astoria Queens, New York.

Father Dean serves with the campus ministry at five Worcester Colleges and has served in the local prison ministry. Among his many community memberships, Father Dean has served on the Worcester County Ecumenical Council, the Worcester County Interfaith Affiliate, the Advisory Committee to the Worcester Public Schools Peak Program, the Downtown Clergy Association, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews, for which he was awarded the Brotherhood Citation in November, 1992. Father Dean also serves on the Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and the Hellenic College Holy Cross Board of Trustees Executive Committee. He has also served on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese National Missions Committee and the Archdiocesan Council. Father Dean addresses issues that face churches today as a member of the Wulsten’s Society. The Wulsten’s Society is a society of ministries of all faiths that meets monthly to discuss issues that churches face in Central Massachusetts.

Father Dean has been involved with many wonderful religious pilgrimages. In 1985 and again in 1993, he arranged for a group of faithful to visit the Holy Land to reconnect with their Christian roots. During the 1985 visit, the tour group was also invited by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos to visit the Patriarch of Jerusalem. In the early 90s, Father Dean made another pilgrimage to Rome, Athens, and Constantinople with His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios and Cardinal Bernard Law in a joint Orthodox / Catholic venture.

In 1997, Father Dean was invited to visit the White House by President Clinton to attend the East Room Reception and a State Department dinner to honor His All-Holiness Patriarch Demetrios. He was also invited to a State Department Dinner to honor His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios where he met and befriended Madeline Albright. To this day, they continue to correspond with one another. Father Dean was involved with the AHEPA dedication of the Statue of Harry Truman in Greece, and had the privilege of attending the formal ceremonies by the former Ambassador to Greece, Mr. R. Nicholas Burns. Mr. Burns later served as the Ambassador to NATO and is now the Assistant Secretary of State.

On Sunday, January 29, 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and Father Dean welcomed The Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester as a guest for the service of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs. This auspicious hierarchical event represented a true and significant ecumenical encounter by spiritual leaders of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in Massachusetts.

Father Dean is very involved with Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, having been one of the original priests at ground breaking in 1994. He has served on the Board of Directors, has helped raise funds to support it, and continues to provide weekly services at the chapel.

In his active life of religious service and as an outstanding human being and humanitarian, Father Dean has mentored many seminarians. His door is always open and his words of wisdom have touched many who have reached out to him for counseling. It is not unusual to find Father Dean visiting, praying, and giving communion to the infirmed in either hospitals or homes on a daily basis. He has quietly helped many individuals and families in need, both spiritually and financially. He is a supporter of many humanitarian causes and has helped raise substantial funds for these organizations.

On a lighter note, Father Dean loves the cultural arts, theatre, and music. He also loves Broadway shows and has had the great pleasure to meet many celebrities and musicians. It is not surprising that both the famous and not yet famous are attracted to his affable and warm personality and gravitate to him. His rolodex would be the envy of any Hollywood agent!

Father Dean has been an ordained clergyman for 32 years and has served the Orthodox Church with love and humility. The community of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral wishes him many more spiritually rewarding years in his ministry and thanks him for his guidance, devotion, and leadership.
AXIOS!