A large number of people, friends, associates,
including outstanding personalities from the political
arena, the world of arts and letters, and the business
and shipping world attended the funeral service
to bid their last farewell to the man who had been
the soul of the Foundation for so many years. Representing
the government: the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Petros Molyviatis, the Minister of the Interior,
Public Administration and Decentralization Mr.
Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the Minister of Health and
Welfare Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Minister of
National Defence Mr. Spilios Spiliotopoulos and
the Minister of Development Mr. Panos Panayiotopoulos.
Representing the Major Opposition: the former President
of the Parliament Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis, the
former ministers Mr. Evaggelos Venizelos and Mr.
Theodoros Pangalos, and Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis,
head of the PASOK members of the European Parliament.
The following also attended: the former prime minister
Mr. Ioannis Grivas, the Rector of the University
of Athens Mr. George Babiniotis, the Members of
Parliament Mr. Kiriakos Mitsotakis, Mr. Miltiades
Varvitsiotis and others.
The Metropolitan of Nea Smyrni Symeon, the Minister of the Interior, Public Administration
and Decentralization Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the former Minister Mr. Evaggelos
Venizelos, the Rector of the National University of Athens Mr. George Babiniotis,
the President of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre (Onasseio) Prof. Ioannis
Papadimitriou, the Director of the Onasseio’s First (A) Cardiologic Department
Prof. Dionysios Kokkinos, the President of the Hellenic-Egyptians Association
Mr. Filippos Kossenas and the President of the Scholars’ Association of the Onassis
Foundation Dr. Ioanna Kondylis spoke in praise of the charismatic personality
and the great accomplishments of Stelios Papadimitriou.
‘One of the most illuminating examples of the Hellenic Diaspora, a man endowed
with the burning flame of creation, who brilliantly demonstrated what the Hellenic
spirit is able of accomplishing no matter where it may have traveled’, were
the words of Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos for the late Stelios Papadimitriou. ‘A
great part of Aristotelis Onassis’ creativity is due to Stelios Papadimitriou’s
contribution’, added the Minister of the Interior. ‘A contribution that
becomes even greater when, after the death of Onassis, he assumes the responsibility
to walk in his footsteps, so that the large Onassis legacy for the country and
for Hellenism would not be lost. During his lifetime, Stelios Papadimitriou
accomplished far more than many people would have during theirs’.
In his obituary, Mr. Evaggelos Venizelos said
that Stelios Papadimitriou was ‘a man of true
nobility, a man of great farsightedness and creativity,
and a man who felt obliged to become the guardian
of a great name’s legacy. Stelios
Papadimitriou realized the existence and the
importance of the four areas, which can give a
small, European country such as Hellas ecumenical
dimensions – and he became involved in all four: the
Hellenic Diaspora, the merchant shipping, the Orthodoxy
and the vast reserve of the Hellenic civilization
that belongs to the global cultural heritage’.
Professor
George Babiniotis spoke of the ‘Hellene
patriot with the charismatic personality’,
and he added: ‘It came as no surprise that
another farsighted Hellene of keen perception entrusted
him with the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit
Foundation. For many years, Stelios
Papadimitriou had been navigating the "company
vessel" with
mastery, wisdom, and with respect for the memory
and will of Onassis; with integrity and authority.
He was known for his creativity; his mind was
always open to ideas, combining reasoning with
vision; he was sensitive with a sense of humor
and his mind was influenced by the “Kavafian”
philosophical way of thinking. He was known for
his humanitarian beliefs, his fighting spirit
and his sense of boundaries”.
The funeral eulogy by the Honorary Vice President
of the Onassis Foundation Mr. Paul Ioannidis was
exceptionally heart-moving. Mr. Ioannidis, who
was there for Stelios Papadimitriou during the
last moments of his life as if he were his own
brother, bid the last farewell to his bosom friend
and close associate with whom they had joined paths
next to Aristotelis Onassis, and with whom he later
led the Onassis Foundation.
The crowning moment
of the funeral service was, of course, the farewell
speech given by his son Mr. Anthony Papadimitriou
who recounted his father's life, the first difficult
years, the pursuit of a better life in Egypt, in
Saudi Arabia and in Hellas, the years of maturity
next to Onassis, the establishment and recognition
of the Foundation, and finally the uneven battle
against his disease.
‘My father's entire life was led by a star
that commanded constant reversals and battles’,
Mr. Papadimitriou said." He
managed to win them all, except the last one’. |
