I miss Rocket particularly at Thanksgiving.  Since she didn't cook, I usually invited her to my house for the feast.  She brought the dessert and the "kids wine" we called it--carbonated grape juice.  We would catch up on the political scene as well as giving thanks for the many blessings of the previous year.  So often I want to share a funny cartoon with her, or a YouTube video that satirizes a pompous person in the media.  But she's not there.  She passed far too soon and so quickly I didn't get to say goodbye.                     Betsy Ellis

Rochelle was a math major in Queens College. She was nicknamed Rocket for driving fast in her 2002 model BMW. She played the drums and was friends with the drummer from Kiss.
She enjoyed telling jokes and laughing to lift the spirits of all those in her life.

I’ve known Rocket since I moved to Atlanta 30 years ago. 
We met eating pizza and Greek salads after the Tuesday night bike ride. There would be 15-25 people each week but somehow I got to know Rocket more than the others. Perhaps because we were both pediatric oriented, or maybe because we were both very practical and blunt. Most of my memories are of sitting near her at Athens Pizza and talking about bikes or cars or the latest cellphone, and sharing food. 
Then my husband and I got married and we became even better friends. Rocket and George were 2 of the “3 Musketeers” always making silly puns and corny jokes. It was great. 
Rocket and I used to trade shoe store stories, and would tell each other whenever we found a shoe store that carried many sizes.  She had very small feet and I had very big feet, any store that had her size shoe usually had my size as well. If either of us found a new shoe store with many sizes, we would tell each other. This series of conversations ended with the advent of Zappos, because then we could get odd size shoes any time we wanted. 
When she became a mom we went and visited them.  Then as our kids got older and into their own activities, it got harder to find times that matched. 
But we still kept texting. She and George and I would share silly jokes or political news and talk about city council or state elections. We texted with her the day before she died, about news from south Georgia. 
Jackie, I am so sorry for your loss and I hope all these memories of her are a blessing. 

I had the privilege of working with Dr. Lopyan for 27 years.  I was so young in age and in dentistry that she took me under her wing.  She was the best teacher and mentor to me.  I can still hear her. ...."where's Michelle" when she needed me or wanted to show me something neat (on a radiograph). There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't have something to say about Hampton or Jackie. They were definitely the light of her life. She did have her quirks and was NEVER on time for anything but she was a special person and will be deeply missed. 

Rocket and I have been friends since about 1982 when I met her at at the opening of a dentist's office down the hall from my office.  She got me interested in bicycling, and it has become a big part of my life for these 39 years.
I think we clicked as friends because she was always very professional, very ethical in her pedodontic practice and always focused on doing the best, most compassionate dentistry she could for children who came to see her.
She had her quirks.  She could be difficult at times.  She would often seek my advice, then refuse to follow it, insisting I was wrong.  But the advice she sought was always focused on how best to care for her nieces and her grandson.  When her brother died, she took complete custody of them and provided all their care and special schooling.  I had a deep respect for her for taking on all that.  She was a selfless person.
Her death has come at a complete shock to me.  I  will miss her greatly.

Dr Lopyan was a dedicated mother, an exceptional pediatric dentist and a supporting friend. 
She was knowledgeable, confident, open minded and a lifetime student. I will truly miss her friendship and professional camaraderie. She was a mentor that listened, encouraged, and offered genuine advice. Me and my family will always cherish her memories and feel lucky to have known her. 

Everything Rochelle did was for the benefit of Jacqueline and Hampton, whom she loved dearly.  She always worked to do what was best for them and tried to teach them along the way. Rochelle loved being a dentist, helping kids, keeping up with dentistry and running her business.  She told me many times she never wanted to retire because she would miss working and be bored.  Rochelle loved driving her car fast in “sport mode”, keeping up with the latest technology, and picking up food at Local Expeditions.  She was a smart, cool lady with a fun sense of humor.  I am grateful I knew her and I will miss her immensely.     

I met Rochelle when her brother passed. She was amazing lady.  We kept in contact for a few years.  Always had something to laugh about.  She became a mom and did a dam good job of it. Her smile and her laugh is what I will always remember about her. God Bless you Rocket you are a Saint ❤️

I worked with Dr. Lopyan as an assistant.   She was a phenomenal dentist.  Dr. Lopyan and I got to know each other over the years and shared many stories together.  I loved her outspoken, confident spirit that she had. A force for sure!! She was a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it.  No matter what life threw at her, she would fight to make it work.  I enjoyed my times with her and will never forget her spirit. It inspired me to go after what I wanted in my own life!! She will be missed so much!! So grateful that God crossed our paths. 

She would tell me every morning where is my bridesmaid dress ,if it was white laugh out loud she would say her wedding gown.We will miss  her jokes 🤦🏾‍♀️We love you Dr.Lopyan CDC.

I have so many great memories riding bikes with Rocket.  But the fun only started there.  Rocket, George B. and me referred to ourselves as the "3-Musketeers".  Many times, we got together for movies, meals or some Southern Bicycle League (SBL) function.  We prided ourselves on getting together with little or no planning (planning was frowned upon).  Among many of our running jokes was, "who of the three of us would be the latest to arrive at our meeting place"? The latest one was declared the winner and received high praise. Anyone caught arriving at or near the agreed upon time was chastised! Any topic was fair game for clowning and cracking jokes.  My friendship with Rocket was characterized by light hearted joking and laughter, which will always be the valuable possession of my memory.   So I may need to be just a little late to the service (out of respect for Rocket). 

OBITUARIO

Rochelle "Rocket" Lopyan

16 mayo, 1950 – 25 noviembre, 2021

H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel

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