A legendary man, Pavlos Pavlakis, spread his wings and flew for the big trip.
Pavlos "left" at the age of 92.
KEPA bids farewell to Pavlos Pavlakis, reminding us of his action, his struggles and his offer.
The post of KEPA:
He saw the light of life in Ardana, Famagusta on November 10, 1930. A patriotic man, creative and very progressive.
At the call of the homeland for the liberation struggle of 1955-59 he declared a thunderous presence. Together with his brother friends Antonis Papadopoulos and Grigoris Afxentiou, they were among the first to be sworn in. Pavlos Pavlakis under the pseudonym MELAS served as the head of the Famagusta department and carried out many missions. On December 23, 1955, he was arrested by the British together with Antonis Papadopoulos inside the building of Anorthosis. He was first taken to the Kokkinotrimithia detention center and then to the Pyla detention center, from which he escaped with Antonis Papadopoulos in September 1956. After his escape, he resumed his duties as head of Famagusta until the end of the liberation struggle.
From 1959 to 1960 he was general secretary of the United Democratic Reconstruction Front (EDMA), the party from which the Patriotic Front came. EDMA was the political expression of the EOKA fighters. He was elected member of parliament in the 1960 parliamentary elections in the Famagusta Electoral District with the Patriotic Front for the first parliamentary term. After the dissolution of the Patriotic Front in 1969 he continued as an independent. In the period 1960-1961 he was a parliamentary representative of the Patriotic Front. He retained his parliamentary position until 1970.
Pavlos Pavlakis was the president of the Anorthosis Famagusta sports club in the periods 1961-1962 and 1966-1967. Anorthosis has always been in his heart and his words in an interview a few years ago were characteristic: "I am happy and I leave refreshed, that there are children like you, who hold Anorthosis". He always supported and helped the union quietly and effectively. For his great contribution to the club, Anorthosis named him its honorary president in 2015.
However, apart from Anorthosis, Pavlos Pavlakis during his earthly journey benefited and helped everywhere. Charities, churches, foundations, unions, the needy, the sick, the elderly received his help which he always took care of secretly, away from the limelight… MAN (in capital letters) with vision and multiple interests but mainly love for fellow human beings with a willingness to offer to society as a whole. At the end of his life he completed a great course of offering, love and humanity.
But also as an employer, Pavlos Pavlakis stood out as he loved the employees as his own children. Hotel employees valued and respected him first as a person and then as an employer. There are many incidents that helped and offered to many employees and their families. As a businessman he was a progressive and honest man for that and his businesses and hotels were an example to follow.
KEPA is one of the many institutions that the late Pavlos Pavlakis benefited and still benefits to this day, to a great extent. Meetings with him were a life lesson, because we saw an insightful person asking and being really interested in the future of KEPA and actually helping. All he asked of us was not to publish any help. We respect and obey his request. We feel very grateful to him and his family.
As a minimum sign of gratitude, the Board of Directors of the Foundation in an extraordinary meeting decided as:
1. Members of the Board of Directors attend the funeral.
2. The President of the Foundation to lay a wreath.
3. The flags of the Foundation are flown at half-mast for three days.
4. A Lunch of Love is offered in his memory.
5. The Social Grocery "Basket of Love" offers food in his memory during the month of May.
5. On Monday (day of celebration of the Foundation) Pavlos Pavlakis is mentioned among the owners of KEPA.
To his esteemed wife Mrs. Greece and to his dear daughters Silias, Elena and Christina and their families, we express our sincere condolences and love.
We will always remember him with respect and gratitude.
Let his deeds and works be an example to be imitated by future generations.
May his memory be eternal.