Jorge Arias, 71

On September 12, 2014 Dr. Jorge Arias left this world for his heavenly home where he can rest and find peace.

He was born on May 12, 1943, to Teodoro and Una Scott Arias.

Jorge married the love of his life, Kathy Arias, in California in 1971. She was his life partner, his research assistant and his best friend. They had many adventures together and created many memories as a family. They have four children, David, Ana, Sara and Tamara; three children-in-law Juliana, Phillip and Nate; and grandchildren Pedro, Daniel, Ricky, Samuel, Daniel, Jesse, Ariana and Jayni. He is also survived by siblings Teodoro and Joanna, nephews Trey and Donovan and his mother-in-law Barbara Cardin. He will be greatly missed.

A gifted scientist, Dr. Arias earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Biology from Whittier College, and a PhD in Entomology from the University of California, Riverside. His scientific work took him into the jungles of the Amazon where he set up research labs and identified 19 new species of insects. His research and work with sand flies and leishmaniasis led to numerous publications and editorial work. In more than 30 years of scientific work, Dr. Arias received numerous accolades and dozens of honors and awards in the field of entomology, including 14 insect species named in his honor. The Pan American Health Organization took him to Panama, Brazil, Venezuela and the USA, where he retired in Washington, D.C. in 2003. Retirement did not stop his passion for entomology and he continued his work creating and supervising programs for West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease prevention for the Fairfax County Health Department until 2011.

Dr. Arias would always say that his greatest achievement and pride is his family.

Above all else, Jorge loved his family and his family loved him. Joking up until his last days, Jorge knew how to make people laugh and feel loved. He was a man who lit up every room he entered and left many as a best friend. He would make it a point to remember your name and learn how to greet you in your own language. He simply knew how to love and is loved deeply by many.

Dr. Arias requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to the Collins Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a child advocacy center that works with abused children. He spent the last 10 years supporting their work through his own donations and volunteer service.

A Memorial Service for Dr. Jorge Arias will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 12:00pm in the Baker-Post Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 10001 Nokesville Rd., Manassas, VA 20110. There will be a memory book to share pictures and stories.

Please sign the guest book at www.bakerpostfh.com.