Independence before a crowd of 500,000.

The Philadelphia native also played Washington at a White
House state dinner for former French president Nicolas
Sarkozy and at a billionaire’s birthday party in Florida, among
other notable events. One time, he even told a CIA director
that he couldn’t talk to him about tradecraft during the
Revolutionary War.

“I said, ‘You’ll have to forgive me,’” Malissa recalled of the
conversation. “‘I don’t know you from Adam.’”
The director cracked up.

As Washington, Malissa didn’t merely recall lines. He
embodied the first president. He was him.

For the actor, it was never the role he imagined; but it became
the role of his life — the only one he played for the last two
decades of his career.

“It’s one of the most important stories ever told,” Malissa said.

“It’s been an honor to be able to tell the story.”
The Philadelphia native was phasing into retirement even
before the pandemic. At the time, Malissa, now 68, was pushing
into his late 60s. He had also lost his father, mother and wife
between 2017-’20.

Unlike Washington, though, who retired to Mount Vernon
after his second presidential term, Malissa wants to keep
traveling. He named England, Japan and several other countries
as places he hopes to visit.

“I’d like to spend extended amounts of time in some of these
countries,” Malissa said.

That’s hardly a surprise, as Malissa never does anything
half-speed. Before portraying Washington, he was a corporate guy for 26
years, working for Penn Ventilation, his family’s business, which
manufactured industrial and commercial ventilation equipment.

After graduating from college, Malissa started working for the
company, rising from junior sales rep to senior vice president.

In 1999, when the family decided to sell the business after 71
years, Malissa had an equity stake. The 46-year-old made enough
money to take some time off after the sale.

At the time, Malissa only knew one thing: He was finished
with a corporate world that he never loved in the first place.

“I would tell people I was in business, but not of business,”
Malissa said. “It was no longer enjoyable to me.”
Thanks to
the Model
Railroad Club
at Shannondell,
Thanks to the Model Railroad Club at Shannondell,
Acting, though, had been enjoyable to Malissa. He just hadn’t
Thanks are to always
the Model running
Railroad and
Club on at time.

Shannondell, our our trains
With more
more done it since high school.

trains are
always running
and on
time. With
our Thanks
trains to are the always
With more
Model running
Railroad and
Club on at time.

Shannondell, So after the sale, he tried it out again, landing the lead role in
than 1,000
feet of
track, this
impressive hobby room
room “Damn
than than 1,000
feet of
track, this
impressive hobby
Yankees” at Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park.

our trains
are always
running and
on time.

With more
1,000 feet
of track,
this impressive
hobby room
Thanks to the Model Railroad Club at Shannondell,
Still, it was just community theater. And while the voice in
brings smiles
to the
faces of
children and
adults alike.

than 1,000
of faces
track, this
impressive hobby
room our
trains always
running and on time.

With more
brings brings
smiles of of children
adults smiles to are feet to the
the faces
children and and
adults alike. alike. Malissa’s head was telling him to act professionally, it was quieter
brings 1,000
smiles feet
to their
faces of child
children and another
adults alike.

than of the track,
impressive hobby
room Re-engineering
their inner
yet, another
Re-engineering inner this
child – – – yet,
way way way
than the voices telling him to do other things.

Re-engineering their
inner child
yet, another
Re-engineering their
inner child
– yet,
another way
brings smiles
to the
faces of
children and
adults alike.

Then, one day, the production needed a prop for Malissa’s
Shannondell residents are
living more
inspired. Shannondell
residents more inspired.

inspired. Shannondell
residents are are are living
living more
inspired. Shannondell
residents living
character. So, the leading man went downtown to Hocus Pocus,
Re-engineering their inner
child – more
yet, another
way a magic shop.

Shannondell residents are living more inspired.

The owner gave Malissa the prop, rang him up and asked him
a truly strange question.

“What do you want to do with the rest of your life?”
Visit Visit shannondell.com
shannondell.com Malissa did not know the man. He had not told him of his
Visit shannondell.com
800.669.2318 or or call call 800.669.2318
current dilemma. But he explained it anyway, and the man had
call an answer.

more 800.669.2318
information. Living to Inspire ®
for or for more
information. Living to Inspire ®
“Listen to the quietest voice,” he said. “Because it’s the one you
® for more information.

Living to Inspire
® want but are most afraid of.”
Living to Inspire
10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403
© 2017 Shannondell, Inc.

® Living to Inspire
10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403
“I left the shop with my head exploding,” Malissa said.

© 2017 Shannondell, Inc.

10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403
© 2017 Shannondell, Inc.

He pulled out his late ’90s cell phone, lifted the antenna and
Inspiring happier,
Inspiring a happier,
Inspiring happier,
longer life a just
just takes
longer takes
Inspiring a just
happier, longer
life takes
a a little
engineering. Inspiring
a happier,
little engineering.

just takes
a longer
little life
engineering. longer
just takes
a little life
engineering. a little engineering.

Visit Visit shannondell.com
shannondell.com or or call
call 800.669.2318
800.669.2318 for for more
more information.

information. 10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403
10000 Shannondell Dr, Audubon, PA 19403
10 DECEMBER 16, 2021
© 2017 Shannondell, Inc.

© 2017 Shannondell, Inc.

THE GOOD LIFE
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



Dean Malissa, right, has played George Washington for about two decades.

BRAN D N EW
CALL US AT
(215) 999-3619
AND ASK
ABOUT OUR
COMPLIMENTARY PACKING,
PLANNING AND MOVING
SERVICES. G ES
COT N T O A W
8 SO 5 LD % !
Model Cottages
Available to Tour
RydalWaters.org Newly Renovated
Apartments To schedule a tour of
our beautiful cottages and apartment homes,
please call (215) 999-3619 or visit us online.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Courtesy of Dean Malissa
THE GOOD LIFE
RydalPark.org DECEMBER 16, 2021
11