Times Community Newspapers

Lord Fairfax

By Alison Fargo
06/05/2003

After 25 years of community involvement, Oak Hill resident Jeff Parnes is being recognized as this year's Sully District Lord Fairfax.

"Whenever there is something to be done, Jeff has always done it," said Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey (R), who selected the district's lord and lady. "Jeff's worked long and hard, and he's long overdue."

Parnes has been chairman of the Land Use and Transportation Committee for the Sully District Council since 1992 and also serves as webmaster and first vice president of the Sully District Council.

"Each year we have a plan review, and I have seen all the changes," Parnes said. "We as citizens have a way to impact how our community grows and changes."

Along with serving on the Sully District Council, Parnes also is treasurer of the American Society for Quality, the Northern Virginia section.

In addition, he is Sully's representative on the executive committee for the Fairfax County Federation of Civic Associations, a member of the Sully District Plan Review Task Forces and is chair and webmaster of the Civic Affairs Committee for the Chantilly Highlands Home Associations.

"Jeff always found the time and willingness to do things," Frey said. "People don't realize that some of these things just don't happen; he is making them happen."

Dating back to the 1980s, Parnes has served on the Fairfax Center Area Task Force, Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop committees, as well as been the field maintenance director for the Chantilly Youth Association.

"[Parnes] is one of the people I admire for his time management," said Carol Hawn, who has served on the Sully District Council and Land Use and Transportation Committee with him since 1996. "We've all benefited from his hard work."

Parnes' family also has been involved in the area for years. His wife, Daria, has been a librarian with Fairfax County since 1985 and currently serves as the assistant branch manager at Kings Park Library in Burke.

Adam Parnes, Jeff's son, who now works for Nextel in public relations, graduated from Chantilly High School and received a degree in journalism from Syracuse University. Adam was responsible for starting the Young Democrats at Chantilly High School.

Daughter Sarah Parnes was one of Chantilly High School's valedictorians in 1999, an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia and graduated with honors in history and environmental science. Sarah is a graduate student at Harvard University and currently is working on a research project at the Harvard Forest.

Parnes said, "I was very happy, impressed and delighted [to be nominated as Lord Fairfax]. I suggest everyone should get involved; they need to pick something that helps make our community better."