Long involved with both soccer and area homeowners, Oak Hill's Anthony Dorrzapf is this year's Lord Fairfax from the Sully District. Bestowing this honor on him was Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully).
"Tony's been active with various community groups for a long time," said Frey. "He's been a bridge between the older and newer residents and has really done a terrific job. He's worked really hard to get people the information they need, and I've really appreciated his help."
Dorrzapf and other Lord and Lady designees representing all the magisterial districts will be honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors during the June 3 Board meeting and feted at a dinner, that night, at Mike's American Grill in Springfield. Then all the "royalty" will preside over the Fairfax Fair, June 7-9.
A 29-year Oak Hill resident, Dorrzapf, 64, holds a masters degree in analytical chemistry and is a facilities officer with the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston. He and his wife of almost 42 years, Mary, have a son, Anthony III, a county animal-control officer, daughter-in-law, Angela, and three grandchildren, Michael, 19, Helena, 15 and Tommy, 13.
In 1973, he joined the Navy Vale Community League, encompassing everything from Route 50 to Centreville Road. He's served as president, the past six years, and since then, the League has become a source of information for all residents in the Navy Vale area.
It includes 13 homeowners associations — such as Camberley East and West and Fair Oaks Estates — plus some 200 League members who don't live in developments.
"I'm the communications link between the county government, Frey's office and the homeowners," explained Dorrzapf. "I make sure they get information about new developments and changes in zoning." And when needed, he helps rally the residents together. For example, they all united against an Oak Hill zoning change that would have resulted in higher density.
His position entails attending meetings of the county Planning Commission, Supervisors and Sully District Council of Citizens Associations. And, says Dorrzapf, "When I make a presentation [on the League's behalf] to Frey and the Board, they listen."
But his main community involvement has been with the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL). He was a coach and then Select Commissioner for the Chantilly Youth Association (CYA), and later founded and served as first president of the Chantilly Soccer Club.
Dorrzapf continued coaching and was elected secretary of the Fairfax County Soccer Association; when it then reincorporated as the NCSL, he was the founding secretary. He also served two years as treasurer and three years as president.
He was a founding co-director of the NCSL Capital Cup, a premier tournament for college-bound players, enabling them to perform before prospective college coaches. And he returned to coaching last spring to assist his son with an SYA girls team, whose members fondly called him, "Coach Grandpa."
Dorrzapf's interest in community service began when he lived in Maryland and Anthony was in elementary school there. "I worked with a fellow on the school board in Prince George's County at the time of integration and busing," he recalled. "He told me, 'You have to get involved in the community' — and I was in front to greet the first busload of students to welcome them to the school."
Then when Anthony was in second grade and Dorrzapf was PTA president, he learned more. "I found out about bringing people together [by, for example], putting on fun fairs," he said. "Now, it's nice to look around and see things I've been involved in. A young man I coached, [Warren Williams], now coaches the Centreville High girls varsity soccer team. These are the rewards you don't think about when you're putting in all those long hours."
As for being named Lord Fairfax, when Frey called him, said Dorrzapf, he was quite surprised: "My first thought was, 'What about some other people?' I consider it a great honor; there are lots of people in these communities who put in a lot of time and effort."