Deno G. Thevaos

Deno G. Thevaos, Ed.D. July 8, 1919 - February 18, 2009 Deno G. Thevaos, Ed.D., 89, retired Professor of Education and Psychology, Penn State University, died Feb. 18, 2009, at The Atrium of The Village at Penn State, State College, Pa. Visitation will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 119 S. Sparks Street, State College, Pa. Funeral service will follow at 3 p.m., with the Very Rev. John M. Reeves officiating. Interment will follow at the Graysville Cemetery next to his wife of 67 years, Theola Floore Thevaos, who predeceased him by six months. Dr. Deno Thevaos was born in Augusta, Ga. on July 8, 1919, the son of George T. and Helen Antonopoulos Thevaos. He was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Augusta, Ga. He attended the Academy of Richmond County and was a member of the Gold "R" Society reflecting his scholarship, athletic, and civic club involvement. He graduated from Augusta College, now Augusta State University and then Emory University-Atlanta, receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree. He served as principal, teacher and basketball coach at Bartow High School, Bartow, Ga. for two years prior to World War II in which he served in the U.S. Army - Air Corps. Upon honorable discharge, he taught at the Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee for two years. Following this he enrolled and completed work for his Masters and Doctoral Degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. Following the receipt of his Doctorate, he began teaching at Penn State University and continued there until his retirement. At Penn State he was listed among the schools Master Teachers and in 1966 received the coveted Lindback-Eisenhower Award for distinguished teaching. This is one of the two highest All-University Awards given annually by Penn State. He was a long time member of the YMCA and a lifelong member of the Kiwanis Civic Club receiving the Kiwanis Legion of Honor Award. Also, a member of the Torch Club, he was a recipient of the Silver Torch Award for Outstanding Service. For outstanding service in education, he received a certificate from Phi Delta Kappa. He served on the Centre County Youth Services Board and was active in the Special Olympics program. Following retirement from 40 years of active teaching, he and his wife continued to live in State College and maintained active involvement in Penn State activities. They travelled extensively around the world visiting almost every continent and a few years ago moved into the new Village at Penn State. Dr. Thevaos is survived by his brother, Dr. Theo G. Thevaos and sister-in-law, Artemisia D. Thevaos, of Augusta, Ga.; his nephew, Dr. G. Philip Thevaos, his wife Celia, and great niece Mary Emma, of Waxhaw, N.C.; several cousins, nieces, and nephews, all of whom were beloved by him. A special thanks to niece and nephew Bettye and Wayne Coil, of Fairfax, Va., for their loving care through the years and to the staff at the Atrium for their personal care to Deno and Theola during their final years. Pallbearers will be George E. Cheros, Wayne Coil, and G. Philip Thevaos. Honorary pallbearers will be fellow faculty and staff of Penn State University, members of Kiwanis and Torch Clubs and staff from the Atrium. If so, desired memorials may be made to the Department of Education and Psychology at Augusta State University or Penn State University. Arrangements are under the direction of Koch Funeral Home, State College.