Angene George Rafferty

ANGENE GEORGE RAFFERTY Angene George Rafferty, of Pompano Beach, Florida, and Washington, DC, a pioneer in the Greek-American community, passed away peacefully at home on February 15, 2015, at the age of 90. A businesswoman, philanthropist, and fundraiser, she left an indelible mark on Washington society since moving to the city from her native Chicago in 1954. She leaves a legacy of giving back to the community and served as a role model and inspiration to many. Mrs. Rafferty was probably best known in the Washington, DC area for her dedicated service to Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral and to the Greek Orthodox Church. In the early 1980s, she became the first woman to serve as President of the Parish Council at Saint Sophia. During her two-term presidency, she spearheaded the raising of over one million dollars for the restoration and renovation of the Cathedral. She actively participated in the Ladies Philoptochos Society and the Parent Teacher Organization, having served as Vice President and President for those respective organizations, as well as chairing numerous events over the years. She was also a fulfilled member of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund. In recognition of her contributions to the Church and to the Philoptochos Society, Archbishop Iakovos presented her with the Medal of Saint Paul the Apostle in 1996, and the American Hellenic Institute awarded Mrs. Rafferty its Hellenic Heritage National Public Service Award in 2001. The oldest daughter of Sam and Christina George, who emigrated from Greece to the United States, Mrs. Rafferty was born on June 1, 1924, and grew up on the north side of Chicago. Like many first-generation Greek-Americans, she started school speaking only Greek. Her mother died when she was 11 years old and Mrs. Rafferty became responsible for running the household and raising her younger sister. Angene George Rafferty received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Northwestern University. While earning her degree, she worked at the Bureau of Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance ("OASDI"), the predecessor to the Social Security Administration, where she supervised the professional and clerical staff. Following her ten years in government, she worked as an area manager for Sears, Roebuck & Co. and as an insurance broker. She met her husband, Joseph Patrick Rafferty, when they both worked at OASDI. He asked her to marry him on their first date. She agreed nine years later and they were married at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, on February 28, 1954. Soon after, they moved to Washington, DC so that her husband could take a job as a factory representative for The Barcalounger Company. Mrs. Rafferty was a trailblazer in her profes- sional life too. She joined her husband in business and they founded Rafferty, Incorporated. She was one of the first women in the industry to work as a furniture factory representative. She became the first woman to represent Paoli Furniture in 1960, which she continued to represent until her death. She represented Paoli longer than any other sales representative in its history. She was instrumental in the growth of the company and opened doors for Paoli at a number of companies, including Marriott; HI Management Corporation of America, one of the first and largest Holiday Inn franchisees; Choice Hotels; Manor Care; and Health Care & Retirement. Whenever Stewart Bainum, Sr., the founder of Manor Care, would see her at his company's headquarters, he would greet her, "Hello, Mrs. Paoli!". Over her career, she also represented several other furniture manufacturers. Mrs. Rafferty was extremely creative and even designed some chairs for her accounts, which Paoli added to its line. For over six decades, Angene George Rafferty was a vigorous philanthropist and fundraiser. Within the Greek Orthodox Church and in the Washington, DC community generally, Mrs. Rafferty helped raise millions of dollars for charitable programs. Among her many causes, none was as important to her as health care for children. Since the late 1950s, Mrs. Rafferty stalwartly supported Children's National Medical Center, hosting fundraisers annually at her own home and through the Philoptochos Society from the early 1960s-1980s. Mrs. Rafferty chaired the Album Committee for the Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America in Washington, DC in 1990. In 1995, she co-chaired the National Philoptochos' Children's Medical Fund Luncheon, which raised more than $200,000 for the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. In 1997-1998, she chaired the fundraising for the Consecration of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Bethesda, Maryland. She was a founding member and Board member of the Metropolitan Washington Orthodox Seniors Housing. Mrs. Rafferty served as a Gray Lady of the American Red Cross during the Korean and Vietnam Wars at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. She actively raised funds for the Rock Creek Women's Republican Organization during the 1960s and 1970s. She enthusiastically volunteered at her children's schools: Landon School, Mater Dei School, Bullis School, and The Holton-Arms School. Mrs. Rafferty was preceded in death by her daughter, Georgia Christina Rafferty, who died from leukemia on June 1, 1959; by her husband Joseph Patrick Rafferty on May 18, 2008; by her sister Georgia George Miller of Glenview, Illinois, in 2001; by her brother Peter S. George of Glenview, Illinois, in 1993; and by her daughter-in-law Carolyn Rafferty on January 12, 2015. She is survived by her son Scott Joseph (Linda) Rafferty and their daughters Angene Georgia and Melina Rose of Walnut Creek, California; her son Philip Patrick Rafferty and his son Riley Vaughn of Rockville, Maryland; and her daughter Catherine Mary Rafferty of Washington, DC. She also leaves their devoted Havanese, Ginger III; and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 19, 2015, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 4801 Yuma Street NW, Washington, DC, with the Trisagion Prayer service at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 20, 2015, at 1 p.m. at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36th Street & Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC, with interment to follow at 3 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a memorial contribution to your favorite charity or to Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral for The Angene George and Joseph Patrick Rafferty Family Saint Sophia Restoration Fund. Arrangements by JOSEPH GAWLER'S SONS.