|
October 01.
2006 12:24PM
Telegram
& Gazette article
 |
| The
Rev. Fr. Dean N. Paleologos
is taken aback by a surprise
party honoring 25 years as
pastor of St.Spyridon Greek
Orthodox Cathedral. Guests
at the DCU Center shouted
"Axios!" ("You
are worthy") as he entered
the hall. Family member ,
from left, daughter-in-law
Zoe Dovras Paleologos, wife,
Cynthia and daughter Irene
Zervoudis watch as he takes
in the scene after entering.
(T&G Staff / BETTY JENEWIN)
|
By Rich Nangle
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER—
And what a surprise it was. Rev.
Dean Paleologos was the man of
the hour last night when 500 admirers
gathered at the DCU Center, honoring
his 25 years as a parish priest
at Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox
Cathedral.
They talked
of a counselor, mentor and friend
known for his generous visits
to the hospitalized, of his mentorship
and his simple friendship.
His daughter-in-law,
Zoe Paleologos, called him a shining
example of what the priesthood
is all about.
Mayor Timothy
P. Murray, Democratic nominee
for lieutenant governor, said
“Father Dean,” as
he is known, has been a permanent
presence, one that is affirming
and positive, in a time when life
is rapidly changing and becoming
busier.
At-Large City
Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes
said she has attended many of
his services and found that his
spiritual leadership goes beyond
the very limited circle of his
family and his church.
A multimedia
presentation detailing his life
was a hit, showing him looking
like very much the young man of
the 1970s with long hair and the
clothing of the time.
The 60-year-old
Rev. Paleologos attended schools
in several locations during his
youth, and holds the offbeat distinction
of having caught for the Lehman
High School baseball team in Canton,
Ohio, just prior to Thurman Munson,
who went on to become a star for
the New York Yankees.
He earned a
Bachelor of Arts in religious
studies from Hellenic College
in Brookline, and a Masters of
Divinity from Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology in
Brookline in 1974. He was both
married and ordained that year
and began his ministry in Illinois.
Wanting to be closer to family,
he ended up coming to Worcester
on Dec. 1, 1981.
Rev. Paleologos
serves on the Council of Greek
Orthodox Metropolis of Boston;
the Hellenic College Holy Cross
Board of Trustees Executive Committee;
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
National Missions Committee and
the Archdiocesan Council. He is
a member of Wulsten’s Society,
which includes ministries of all
faiths and meets monthly to discuss
issues facing churches in Central
Massachusetts. He is also a lover
of theatre and music and likes
to attend Broadway shows.
Rev. Nicholas
Krommydas, of the Saint Demetrios
Church in Weston, remembered the
fun side of Father Dean. He noted
that the two go back as far as
college, a time when Rev. Paleologos
had a license to drive but he
did not. They pooled their resources
and bought a car. Rev. Krommydas
said that rather than depend too
much on Rev. Paleologos to drive,
he took it upon himself to drive
without a license.
Rev. Paleologos’s
brother, Philip, recalled that
on his own radio show some years
back the listeners liked it best
when he entertained a certain
special guest — Father Dean,
of course.
Contact Richard
Nangle by e-mail at rnangle@telegram.com.
|
