George Washington reenactor will be featured in Fort Ligonier program

Philadelphia-area resident Dean Malissa has stepped back from serving as Mount Vernon’s principal portrayer of George Washington to emeritus status.

It’s only natural that he is semi-retired from the living history role since, at 69, he’s lived two years beyond the age Washington reached.

“When I was the sole portrayer at Mount Vernon, I was down there constantly, and I was traveling all over the country and, indeed, around the world,” Malissa said.

Now, he is able to be more selective about his appearances as Washington while having “additional time for myself and my family and to participate with other organizations,” he said.

One of those appearances is slated for April 29, when those attending the Fort Ligonier Association Annual Meeting and Member Reception will be greeted by both Washington and Malissa.

For the first time in his 21 years of portraying Washington, Malissa will answer questions from an audience partly in character and partly as himself.

Malissa is “one of Fort Ligonier’s most popular presenters,” said Julie Donovan, the fort’s director of marketing and public relations.

“We’re excited about the format. Instead of a formal presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to engage with both Mr. Malissa and George Washington. ”

Open to the public and held in person for the first time since 2019, the 6:30 p.m. program will follow an hors d’oeuvres reception catered by Carol and Dave’s Roadhouse at 5:30 p.m. in the Fort Ligonier Center for History Education.

Malissa said his semi-retirement has “allowed me to participate on a deeper level with Fort Ligonier,” accepting an invitation to join the fort’s board of trustees. He also will chair the fort’s annual Cannon Ball benefit, set for Sept. 16.

“I’ve always had a great regard for the people at Fort Ligonier and what they’ve accomplished through the years,” he said.

“This is a worthy place that tells the story” of the French and Indian War and Washington’s involvement.

On Nov. 12, 1758, while serving as a 26-year-old colonel at Fort Ligonier, Washington is credited with helping to halt a “friendly fire” incident. Two groups of colonial Virginia troops mistook each other for the enemy while defending against raiding French Marines and Native Americans amid foggy conditions.

Malissa’s Washington portrayal has evolved through the years. From an initial focus on Washington’s role as a general during the Revolutionary War, Malissa has shifted more attention to his time as president.

He’s been able to wear the same replica uniform throughout, noting, “Washington did occasionally put on a uniform through the presidency, for his birth night and Independence Day.”

When Malissa first took on the role, much of what he thought he knew about Washington was a myth. “I thought Washington wore a wig, but he never wore a wig,” he said.

In addition to in-person appearances, Malissa has portrayed Washington in a number of film and TV productions. One of his favorites was the TV program “George Washington: History Speaks,” in which he appeared in character, answering questions posed by Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

“The big thing for me is to do anything I can to make sure (Washington’s) story gets told — the scholarly and historical version, not the candy-coated version.”

The fee to attend the April 29 event is $35 for association members, $45 per for non-members.

R.S.V.P. by April 25 at fortligonier.org or 724-238-9701.