The teacher George Papaioannou passed away on Thursday 19/09 at the age of 80. His funeral will take place tomorrow Friday 20/09 at the Holy Church of Apostle Andreas in Frenaros at 4:00 p.m.
George Papaioannou Raftis, born in 1944, came from Kalopsida and Prasteio in Famagusta. He married Ekaterini Pitta, sister of the hero Fotis Pitta, from Frenaros and together they had two sons, Giannos and Fotis. He served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal from 1965 to 2004 in the primary schools of Deryneia, Frenaros, Liopetriou and Paralimnion. He was a member of P.O.E.D. and he had excellent relations with his colleagues and students.
He was still known for his rich participation in the commons, being for years a member of the Community Council of Frenaros, offering, among other things, his help to several poor families. Also, on his initiative, a cultural group was founded in the community, while again under his care, the Library of Kokkinohorita Folk Poets was established, a committee whose purpose was to highlight, through publication, the folk poetry of the Kokkinohoria, which he loved so much.
His engagement with folk poetry led him to participate in the jury of the Flood celebration. His entire activity as an athlete, football player and coach in various teams in the region is also noteworthy. As a sign of respect and appreciation for the heroic Pitta family into which he was introduced as a son-in-law, but also as a result of his own love for the History of Hellenism, he founded the Fotis Pitta Museum, after his own intensive research and collection of the archive, taking over the tour himself.
His contribution was not lacking in the Church, in which he was actively involved from a very young age, being one of the three children of Pope John and Elder Kyriaki. He was a member of ecclesiastical committees and one of the founders of the newly erected church of Apostle Andreas in the Frenaros Settlement.
