Charles Anthony Varipapa - Obituary

t is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Charles Varipapa, DDS, cosmetic dentist, bon vivant, Italophile, and master story teller. Charley was loved by his mother, brothers, nephews, nieces and friends. He had an outsized influence on everyone he met: brilliant, funny, exacting, and generous to a fault. Charley was a connector of people and ideas. He filled every room with laughter, insight, and a touch of theater, always able to bend the moment toward joy or revelation. Whether practicing and mentoring fine dentistry, storytelling over a perfect meal, or offering guidance through life’s rough patches, he did it with warmth, flair, and unrelenting optimism. A perfectionist with a cowboy’s confidence, Charley shaped dentistry with both artistry and heart. He believed great smiles began with empathy and conversation, and he practiced that belief every day. He built thriving practices in Dunkirk and Old Town Alexandria, each infused with his love for beauty, food, and design. His office felt like a salon, part studio, part trattoria, where patients became friends and friends became family. Even through years of illness, Charley’s spirit never dimmed. He moved to Chester, Maryland to be near his beloved mother Phyllis, his lifelong teacher and inspiration, and continued to find joy in conversation, cooking, and connection. Charley’s legacy lives in every life he brightened, every colleague he mentored, and every smile he perfected. There’s a hole in the world that will never quite be filled. He is survived by his mother, Phyllis Varipapa; his brothers, Robert, Jamie, Richard, and Michael; his nieces and nephews and many, many loving friends. We all miss you, dear friend. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Charley's life on Sunday, November 2 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. The family is planning a Celebration of Life for Charley to be held in December around the time of Charley's birthday on December 11. Details will be added as soon as they become available. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Cancer Research Institute (online here).