Annandale loses two pillars of the community
Two people well-known in the community who helped make Annandale a better place passed away in recent days.
Everett (Kip) Germain III, the president of the Annandale Boys & Girls Club, died suddenly on March 6 at the age of 67.
Don DiSpirito, a longtime volunteer with the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), passed away on Feb. 26, at the age of 90.
A native of Falls Church, Kip Germain was a standout soccer player at William & Mary. He played professionally for the Washington Diplomats and coached many youth and adult soccer teams.
He spent the last 18 years of his life as president of the Annandale Boys & Girls Club, a nonprofit organization that has trained generations of kids in soccer, football, and basketball.
Kip is survived by his wife Ann, son Brian, daughters Kimberly and Kelly, two brothers, and a sister.
There will be a celebration of life tonight, 5-8 p.m., at the Annandale Sports Center, 6728 Industrial Road, Springfield.
Donald “Don” Daniel DiSpirito, a native of Woonsocket, R.I., was the youngest of nine siblings. He was a Navy veteran, educator, and author of religious books.
A resident of Annandale, DiSpirito led the ACCA furniture program, which collects donated furniture and delivers it to low-income families in the community. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee, who is also a longtime volunteer at ACCA, and a daughter, LeeAnn.
“Serving those in need was his life’s mission,” states his obituary. “In a final act of generosity, Don donated his body to medical science at Georgetown Medical School to benefit others struggling with Alzheimer’s.”
A memorial Mass will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Bailey’s Crossroads on May 4.
3 responses to “Annandale loses two pillars of the community”
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I played soccer in Annandale in the early ’60s through the Boys Club, the head of which was St. (I think) Germain – any relation?
There were four teams, playing at Woodson, and if you hung around after your early game, could play in the other one too.
Yes, Kip’s father, Everett Germain Jr. started and ran Annandale Boys Club. Kip worked in the club his entire life, and took over as President when his father passed away 18 years ago.
Yes. The first youth soccer league in the Washington, DC area was started by Everett Germain, Jr. in 1962. So you must have been one of the pioneers.
Annandale Boys’ and Girls’ Club created a high school club league starting in the late 1960s, as they lobbied for high schools to add soccer as a school sport. Kip was a player coach at JEB Stuart when they were a club team then a Stuart team from 1971 to 1975. You probably played in the ABGC high school club league before soccer became an official high school sport.