Thursday, March 6, 2008
Francis J. Samaha, 79, a McLean dentist and retired Air Force colonel, died of respiratory failure Feb. 15 at Virginia Medical
Center. He lived in Arlington. Dr. Samaha operated his own practice from 1973 to 1995 after serving 20 years in the Air Force
Dental Corps. He also taught dentistry at Georgetown University and the University of Maryland.
He told a reporter in 1986 that dentists must combat patients' fear of dentistry by taking the time to communicate. He said he
often spent up to two hours during the first appointment just talking to a new patient.
"Don't work too fast" Dr. Samaha counseled. "You have to have the patience to treat patients like important human beings. Be
very honest, and don't promise what you can't deliver. '
The son of Lebanese immigrants was born in Washington and raised in Arlington. He graduated from St. John's College High
School, where he played three years of varsity football, was on the rifle team for four years and was undefeated in Golden
Gloves boxing.
He graduated from Georgetown, where he also received a dental degree in 1951. Dr. Samaha then joined the Air Force Dental
Corps and completed a residency in periodontics at Tufts University. Among his military awards was the Legion of Merit.
He taught at Georgetown's dental school while he was in the military and later was administrator of the university's periodontics
program. He also taught at Tufts, the University of Maryland, the University of Puerto Rico and the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Samaha was a fellow in the American College of Dentists. He was a member of the American Dental Association and the
Virginia Dental Association and a past president of the Northern Virginia Dental Society, which gave him its lifetime achievement
award in 1998.
He enjoyed western polo, bowling and golf and loved country-western music. Dr. Samaha was a member of the Knights of
Columbus, the Arlington Senior Golf Association, the Northern Virginia Senior Bowling Association, the Military Officers
Association of America and the American Legion.
His marriage to Leyla Sheahin Linn ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife, Gina Samaha of Arlington; four children from his first marriage, the Rev. Jeffrey F. Samaha of
Forestville, Gary M. Samaha of Acworth, Ga., Lisa Marie Samaha of Newport News, Va., and Richard Samaha of Williamsburg; a
daughter from his second marriage, Nina Samaha of New Paltz, N.Y.; two sisters, Virginia Kfoury of Arlington and Margaret
Samaha of Fairfax; and 10 grandchildren.