The OAFP lost a friend of family medicine when C. David Paragas, JD, age 64, peacefully passed away on October 13, after a long battle with cancer. David served as the government relations lobbyist and legal counsel for the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) for 30 years, dedicating his career to advocating for the advancement of family medicine in Ohio.
With David’s astute legislative and institutional knowledge on policy issues, he helped the Academy establish its reputation as a credible and patient-centered advocacy organization at the statehouse. The relationships that David forged extended not only to legislators and key healthcare stakeholders, but also to countless family physicians and allied professionals.
David was born in Cleveland, OH, and his life was marked by his unwavering dedication, warmth, and exceptional talent as a father, friend, lawyer, and advocate.
David placed his family and friends above all else. He loved each of them deeply and was ready to help with any request, big or small. He gave freely of his time and talents. Nothing made him happier than mentoring young adults interested in the law, connecting people from various parts of his life, and being a catalyst for good. His excitement was palpable when he managed to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
He met his wife, Lee in 1996 and quickly realized she shared his values. Once they figured out how to divide a closet, building a life together came naturally. And, it was such a meaningful life, filled with a multitude of friendships, celebrations, travel, laughter, and community service.
David never took for granted his success – he remembered his roots, acted with humility and grace, understood what really mattered in life, and focused on making a difference in his community. When he entered a room, he brought light, positivity, and infectious energy. His brilliant smile, beautiful head of hair, and meticulous suits were his trademarks.
His children were his crown jewels. If you asked how they were doing, you had better be ready for a long and detailed conversation. Proud isn’t a strong enough word to describe how he felt about them. He was a fun-loving, silly, and protective dad. He spent hours retrieving footballs kicked by Zach and preparing Filipino dishes with Zoe. An avid cyclist, he toured the countryside with friends, testing his endurance by hammering hard and climbing to new heights. Everything he did was steeped in love and taken to the next level. He turned his cycling into 15 years of riding Pelotonia, raising tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research at The James. Even this year, when his cancer had incurably spread, he mustered every ounce of energy to ride alongside his wife, son, and dedicated friends. He was a hero that day, and it gave him the lift he needed to keep on fighting.
David’s legacy will forever be remembered for his unwavering commitment to justice, public service, and community. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Read his full obituary on the Dignity Memorial website.
The OAFP has made a contribution to the OAFP Foundation in David’s memory.
I was greatly saddened to learn about David’s passing. I had no idea that he was ill. He was a wonderful person to work with on the OAFP Public Affairs Committee and a true advocate for family medicine.
David was a wonderful advocate for family medicine and a wonderful advocate for family medicine advocacy
This just breaks my heart. I remember when David first started with the OAFP as lobbyist. So tragic he died so young. We have lost a true friend of Family Physicians in Ohio. RIP, David. May his memory be for a blessing to all who knew him.
David was a man of integrity who served Family Medicine for years with heart-felt advocacy based on genuine belief in who we were and what we stood for. He leaves a tremendous legacy of love for all who knew him.
Oh my, what a loss. He was always helpful and knowledgeable. He will be missed. I appreciate his candor and his understanding of the deeper ways that statehouses get things done.
I miss him.
David was a man of integrity and was dedicated to family medicine. His work at the state house strengthen the OAFP presence and brought advocacy for family medicine to the forefront. I am very saddened by his early death. May the Lord bring peace and comfort to his family.