Dr. Dion S. Janetos

Dr. Dion S. Janetos, 87, of Franklin St, Lynn, MA, died on Sunday, March 20, 2005 at his residence.

Familiarly known as “Doc”, Dion (Dan) Janetos was born in Dover, NH on May 26, 1917, the son of Simon G. and Vasilo (Chapralis) Janetos. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he went on to study dentistry at Tufts University, earning his DMD in June 1941. Dan practiced oral surgery at the Boston Dispensary and then received a commission from the U.S. Navy.

Doc was called to active duty in 1942 and assigned to the Newport, R.I. Training Center, Three months later; he became Squadron Officer of the USS Beaver. During his stay on the Beaver, Doc faced a crew in which “trench mouth” had become rampant. Doc’s ability to swiftly bring the disease under control was then documented by him in a 1944 publication “Trench Mouth Aboard a U.S. Naval Auxiliary Vessel” within the Navy’s Medical Bulletin.

In 1944, Doc was assigned to Great- Lakes, Il, where he schooled the nearly 600 junior dentists stationed there on “Navy Regulations”. Doc was deactivated in 1945 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his tour of duty, he had been awarded three Area Campaign Ribbons. He retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain.

Doc established his private practice in Lynn, MA in 1947 and continued practicing dentistry there until 1995. Dan held a life membership in the Massachusetts Dental Society as well as memberships in the Association of Military Surgeons, the American Legion and others.

Dan is survived by his three brothers, Nicholas, Peter and John Janetos; his sisters, Angeline Banas, Elizabeth Drouin, Christine McLain and Carolyn Snyder; several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover, NH.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on June 17, 2005 at the Greek Cemetery in Dover, NH.

For more information or to sign our on-line guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com