The Zervas family traces its Oklahoma roots back to 1913. George Spiros Zervas was just 16 when he came to the United States from Asini, Greece. He moved from Pennsylvania to Pawhuska, Oklahoma and started The Chocolate Shop. In 1927, he returned to Asini to marry Maria Ginnias. It was an “arranged marriage” as both families lived across the street from one another. The newlyweds returned to Pawhuska to resume the candy business and begin a family.
Sperry George Zervas was born in 1928 and Dean George Zervas was born in 1939. Six months later the Zervas family moved to Bartlesville where they opened the Canteen Drive-In Restaurant on 2ndStreet where Pies and Such is located today.
After graduating from Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, MO, Sperry attended the University of Oklahoma in 1947. George Zervas passed away in 1948 and Sperry dropped out for one year to help his mother. Sperry eventually graduated from OU and the University of Missouri at Kansas City dental school. After serving as a USAF captain in Alaska, Sperry returned to Bartlesville in 1957 to establish his dental practice.
Dean graduated from College High School in 1957. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Dean attended OU and graduated from UMKC’s dental school in 1965 then returned to Bartlesville to practice dentistry with Sperry. Sperry would eventually shift to orthodontics while Dean continued dentistry.
In 1961, Sperry married Marcia Mahan from Fairfax, OK. The couple would go on to have two children – Chris Zervas and Dianne Zervas Shadwick – and eight grandchildren.
Sperry retired in 2006 and passed away in 2008. Sperry served for many years on the United Way’s board of directors and an annual sporting clays tournament is held to raise funds in his memory.
Marcia’s civic involvement included Service League, Meals on Wheels, and Agape Mission.
In 1974, Dean married Kathy Dunn. Kathy’s father, Jim Dunn, moved the family from California to Bartlesville in 1969 when his company, TRW, bought REDA Pump from Armais Artunoff. Dean and Kathy’s family would grow to include three children – Steven, Melissa, and Dana – and today six grandchildren.
Dean retired and sold his dental practice to Heath Potter in 2011. Since that time he has been the clinic director and provider for the Green Country Free Clinic and chairman of the The Woolaroc national art show. Dean was a volunteer dentist for Catholic Charities for two years, and was a trustee for The Frank Phillips Foundation for three years. He is currently a member of Rotary and the Bartlesville Sportsmen’s Club.
Kathy has been involved with the Bartlesville Civic Ballet for 45 years and has been the development chairman for 18 years. Service League, Bartlesville Public School Foundation, Allied Arts & Humanities Council, Agape Mission, and the Community Center Trust Authority all have benefitted from her volunteerism. She was a founding member of the Bartlesville Museum and Sculpture Garden (now Price Tower Arts Center) and serves on the Price Tower exhibits and acquisitions committee. Kathy works alongside Dean as events chairman for The Woolaroc art show.
