During the recent Folk Dance and Choral Festival for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, the Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award was presented to Clifford and Theodora Argue from Mercer Island, WA. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Argues were unable to attend this event in Anaheim, CA to receive this award personally, but it was presented recently by their parish priest, Rev. Father Photios Dumont in front of the faithful congregation at Saint Demetrios Church in Seattle, WA.
When remarking on the selection of Cliff and Theo for this award, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, referred to them as “a couple whose unwavering dedication to the Church, to missions, to philanthropy, and to community service has left a lasting imprint on our Metropolis and beyond. Their tireless efforts span decades and continents and they have been unwavering supporters of Orthodox missions, parish life, youth programs, and charitable initiatives. Through their work, they have not only strengthened the institutions of our faith but have also inspired countless others to serve.”
Clifford and Theodora have had a love of the church since childhood.
Clifford Argue was born in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as an altar boy at the Annunciation Church. His family moved to the Chicago area when he started high school. He had a strong interest in journalism and was elected Editor of his high school paper. He since has written profusely for various Orthodox, ethnic, and secular publications. Cliff was Associate Editor of The Hellenic Journal for a number of years.
Cliff has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering (Transportation) from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Active in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship he was President his senior year. He then served four years in the U.S. Air Force. Upon discharge, Cliff began a 35-year career in the airline industry responsible for construction and real estate leases first at Continental Airlines in Los Angeles and then with Alaska Airlines in Seattle where he was Staff Vice President-Properties and Facilities.
A chance encounter in 1964 with a priest who was active in Mission work began a life-long interest and involvement for Cliff. In 1977 he was appointed to the Missions Committee of the Greek Archdiocese which later became Pan-Orthodox and renamed the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. He had two terms as President of the OCMC Board of Directors and remains the longest serving Board member. During his presidency, the OCMC headquarters building in St. Augustine, Florida was built and dedicated.
At St. Katherine Church in Redondo Beach, CA for 19 years, Cliff was on the Parish Council, including a term as Vice President, the Building Committee for the new hall and the group that oversaw the change from a dues system to a fair share program, i.e. stewardship.
After moving to Seattle in 1983, St. Demetrios Church became the family’s spiritual home. Cliff has worked in various parish roles including as President of the Board for All Saints Camp and Retreat Center on Raft Island, Sunday School teacher, chair of the Oratorical Festival, member of the stewardship committee, and chair of the Church Tours at the Greek Festival.
He served on the Diocesan Council, was a founding member of the Commission for Orthodox Missions and Evangelism (now known as the Missions and Evangelism Ministry) and participated on the Metropolis Strategic Plan. He was appointed to the Archdiocesan Council where he was chair of the Communications Committee for 14 years. In 2004 Cliff was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the offikion Eftaxias.
Cliff was also a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Herman’s Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska.
Theodora Dracopoulos grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and attended St. Sophia Cathedral with her parents. She took some Greek classes, was in the Teen League, and Sunday school. She and Cliff were married there in 1964.
After graduating from Connecticut College for Women in New London, CT, Theo’s writing career began as Assistant to the Editor of The Diplomat Magazine in Washington, D.C. When Cliff’s job brought them to San Francisco, she worked as Assistant to the Public Information Director of the American Red Cross. Cliff and Theo took part in monthly Pan-Orthodox Discussion Group meetings. She sang in the Holy Trinity Choir and continued in choirs in subsequent cities.
In Southern California Theo was an American Red Cross Publicity Area Director and then the United Way Southwest Area Director before having children. At St. Katherine, she served on the Philoptochos Board, volunteered in the church office, wrote newspaper publicity articles, ran a Greek watercolor art booth at the annual festival, and was involved with their daughters’ dance groups both there and later in Seattle. While in Redondo Beach, Theo was invited to write about Greek and Orthodox West Coast events for the short-lived The Western Hellene newspaper.
In Seattle Theo was an Ethnic Heritage Council project editor. At St. Demetrios Church in 1985 Theo was asked to assume the festival bookstore. Through nearly 40 years under her management, the bookstore is now a year-round in-house resource for parishioners.
The Hellenic Journal asked Theo to write a column “Northwest and Pacific Notes” about events in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii, a role she enjoyed doing for several years. Dorothea Mootafes and Theo were co-authors and editors of the 400-page A History of Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and Her People 1882 to 1999. Theo also wrote a small book on Practicing Daily Prayer in the Orthodox Christian Life.
Cliff and Theo have been regular supporters of OCMC, their parishes in Redondo Beach and then Seattle, All Saints Camp, Faith Forward, Philoptochos Light the Path, the Archons Athenagoras Human Rights Award, and donors to the St. Demetrios mosaic icon project and the Philoxenia House Ministry. They have also supported building projects at St. Katherine in Redondo Beach, Assumption Church in Seattle, and Holy Apostles in Shoreline.
No strangers to FDF their daughters Christina and Irene danced with groups from St. Katherine and later St. Demetrios. Christina’s sons Peter and Marc participated from Nativity of Christ in Marin County, and Christina danced with Holy Trinity of San Francisco while working at the Diocese office. Irene’s son Perry danced at parish festivals in Michigan.
AXIOI! Congratulations to this worthy couple for their lifetime of service to the Orthodox Church!