LOTTSBURG—Leigh Errol Doptis of Lottsburg died September 27, 2023.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 27, 1941, Leigh was the devoted son of Sylvia and Leon Doptis, and the beloved brother of Sherry Camma and Joyce Protopapas. He attended St. Ignatius High School and John Carroll University both in Cleveland. Following graduation, he began work on his master’s in microbiology at Ohio State.
In 1966, Leigh joined the Navy and was assigned to the Medical Division of the Defense Intelligence Agency in Arlington, where he met his future wife, Jean Sanders Ord, II, known to everyone as Sandie. They were married in 1969 and have two children, Meghan Doptis and Nathaniel Doptis; an adored daughter-in-law, Sacha Doptis; four grandchildren, Nathaniel (Ethan) Doptis, Ava Ochoa, John Garrett (Rhett) Doptis and Penelope Jane (Penny) Doptis.
His cherished granddaughter, Ashleigh Doptis, predeceased him in July of this year.
Following a tour of duty at the University of North Carolina to obtain his Master of Public Health, Leigh served in the Navy Medical Department in Washington, D.C., Norfolk and Bethesda, Maryland. He retired from the Navy in 1986 in Hawaii, where he was instrumental in setting up the Navy Medical Command, Pacific Region. During his tour in Hawaii, he testified before Congress to acquire funding for the new naval hospital in Subic Bay, The Philippines, to replace the antiquated World War II hospital at Cubi Point.
Leigh was an avid sailor, learning to sail on his parents’ one-design at a very early age on Lake Erie. He competed nationally and internationally, quite often with his son, Nathaniel, and served as the Commodore of the Annapolis Naval Sailing Association during his sailing and racing career. He was also a marathon runner and century cyclist.
After his retirement from the Navy, Leigh worked in the biotech industry in and around the Washington, D.C., area for another 20 years. In 2011, he and Sandie moved to Lottsburg, where they enjoyed their waterfront home on the Coan River and many a sailing adventure with great friends who owned “The Big Boat.” Leigh was a dedicated member and later a life member of Smith Point Sea Rescue. He served them faithfully as their treasurer for seven years.
Leigh requested burial at Arlington National Cemetery which will occur at a later date.
The family requests that any expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Smith Point Sea Rescue.
