Dorothea G. Fotis

She attended Somerville High School and was a star athlete and singer. She played basketball and softball and was the leader of the Majorettes in the High School Marching Band. Her musical abilities and talent were well known and she sang in many choirs and was a soloist for important school and church events. She sang at many Greek Festivals and for the Archbishop and Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Her family were founding members of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition in Somerville, MA where they all attended faithfully.

Dorothea attended The Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, and graduated at the top of her class with honors. She later had a career in the Fairfax County Virginia Public School System working at Hollin Meadows Elementary School and West Potomac High School as an administrator.

She married Dr. Charles William Fotis in 1949 and moved to Washington, DC to accompany her husband’s career in the Federal Government and raise her family. Her husband and 3 children, C. William Fotis, Jr., Linda Fotis and Stephen Fotis, Esq. were her greatest joys. Dorothea was a renowned cook and baker in the Hellenic tradition and her home was a showplace of her devotion to her family and culture.

Dorothea was especially proud of her volunteer and service work in Boston during World War II. She also participated actively in her community by establishing the first Camp Fire Girl Troop in the Alexandria area, serving on her Church Philoptochos Committees and her neighborhood Garden Club. She loved judging the Annual Christmas Door Decoration Contest.

A beacon of warmth and friendship, Dorothea, was beloved by her neighbors of Westgrove in Alexandria, VA. The children adored her and congregated at her house to begin their Annual Halloween Parade and they continue this tradition in her honor to this day.

Dorothea and Charles were life-long members of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral for over 60 years and original members of St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Alexandria, VA.

Dorothea is proud to have received a congratulatory letter from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros on the celebration of her latest birthday.

After 55 years, she moved in 2015 from her beloved Westgrove to Paul Spring Retirement Community close by. Dorothea lit up the halls of Paul Spring with her smile, her energy and her tireless commitment to making the ‘best of every day, no matter how you feel.’ She is loved and remembered by all who knew her and is survived by her son Stephen (Jill Riley), grandsons Riley Fotis and Coleman Fotis, daughter Linda (Zan McLeod), her Paul Spring Community and many nieces, cousins and friends.

Her son, William (Billy) Fotis, predeceased her in 2024. May their memories be eternal.

Flowers may be sent to Demaine Funeral Home.