Greece’s political, economic and shipping sector leaders, among many others, gathered on Tuesday evening at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron) to honor the memory of Vardis Vardinoyannis, on the one-year anniversary of the Crete-born business tycoon’s death.
The late refinery and shipping entrepreneur’s close and extended family members were on hand to honor Vardinogiannis and his late wife, philanthropist Marianna Vardinoyannis, for their decades of contributions to the country’s economy and society.
During a somber one-hour event, a big screen slide show of photographs showed Vardinoyannis in various phases of his life, illustrious career and with his loved ones.
The event was opened by his eldest son, Yannis V. Vardinoyannis, followed by Cretan folk songs and Hellenic Navy marches, as Vardis Vardinogiannis served as a career officer in the Navy before embarking on a business career.
In his remarks, President of the Republic Konstantinos Tassoulas underlined that “…He never shied away from his obligations, he confronted them and managed to set an example that we all admire today.”
Evangelos Marinakis present
Also in attendance were Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis, former president Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former premiers Kostas Karamanlis and Alexis Tsipras, PASOK party president Nikos Androulakis and shipping owner and businessman Evangelos Marinakis, along with many other representatives of the business community, as well as a number of ministers and MPs.
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni referred to Vardinoyannis, her uncle, as a “second father”, while Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, during Sunday’s Armed Forces Day event, praised the Vardinogiannis family’s donation for the construction of two new floors at the Athens Naval Hospital.
