In an atmosphere of deep emotion, with his four daughters—devastated by the loss of their father, dressed in white and holding each other’s hands— as well as the hand of his partner, Tsvetanka Iskilieva, the funeral of businessman Dimi Mavropoulos—who lost his life last Saturday—was held on Thursday at the Church of Saint Kosmas of Aetolia in Limassol, the funeral of businessman Dimi Mavropoulos, who lost his life last Saturday during a storm at sea in the Cape Greco area.
Relatives, friends, colleagues, businesspeople, government and political officials, figures from Limassol’s public life, sports—particularly motorsports—as well as a vast crowd so large that the church could not accommodate everyone who rushed to bid him farewell.
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And it was a different kind of farewell, as colors prevailed instead of the black of mourning. On behalf of his daughters, his daughter, Sylvia Mavropoulou, who, with tears in her eyes and a breaking voice, described the personality of Dimis Mavropoulos. As she said, her father was never going to live a quiet life. “His legendary personality would never have allowed it. Perhaps it was his thick white hair. Maybe it was his colorful shirts, his orange watch, or his red belt. Maybe it was the unique way he did things, or simply his magnetic energy. “He was generous, had an opinion on everything, and was incredibly entertaining. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was completely himself,” he said.
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He also noted that whether you knew him as a businessman, a car collector, a devoted friend, or a prominent figure in this city, he was most likely out and about in his big red bus or in his King of Carnival costume, or simply as Dimi, it’s almost certain you’d have a story to tell about him.
But there was, he continued, another Dimi. “The one that perhaps only the four of us were lucky enough to know. He was our dad. He was our whole world. Four completely different daughters, and, in an incredible way, he managed to make each of us believe that maybe, just maybe, we were secretly his favorite,” she added.
“Dad, we’ll miss you incredibly, and we have no doubt that we’ll find you everywhere—in every color, in every carnival parade, and in each and every one of us,” she added.
The deceased’s close friend, Michalis Zavos, said in his speech that Dimis was a man who entered his heart, entered his life, and left a piece of himself inside him that will never go away.
“Dimis will not be remembered for the way he left us, but for the way he lived. He will be remembered for his smile, his generosity—not only in material things, but in the love and friendship he gave. He was one of those people you knew you could rely on, because he gave without expecting anything in return, because he loved without counting the cost, and his smile always made those around him feel good,” he added.
He noted that his family was the center of his life.
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“My Dimi, my brother, I can’t believe I’ll never see you again, that I’ll never hear your voice again, that we’ll never laugh together again—it’s truly hard for me to say goodbye to you, so I’ll just say, ‘Have a safe journey, brother.’ You, who loved cars, the open road, and the sea so much, will now travel down a road of no return. Save us a spot wherever you’re going, and we’ll keep you in our memories and our hearts here. Because people like you—people we truly loved—never really leave; they remain within us and become a part of our lives. Safe travels. May your memory live on forever,” he added.
The Mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, said in his speech that “Today we bid farewell to a man who was deeply connected to Limassol, a true Limassol native, Dimi Mavropoulos.”
“An authentic, restless man, full of energy and passion for life. A man who never went unnoticed and who left his own distinctive mark on our city. Dimis truly loved Limassol; he cared about what was happening in the city, how it was evolving, where it was headed, and he had opinions that he didn’t hesitate to express…He wasn’t someone who was indifferent. He was someone who got involved. After all, his life took many paths. In the business world, he was active and creative; in motorsports, he made his own mark and became one of the most recognizable figures in Cypriot rally racing,” he added.
He noted that his love for cars wasn’t limited to his racing successes; but that he transformed it into a creative legacy for future generations through the museum of historic and classic cars in Limassol.
His sudden passing, he said, “has shaken us.” “On behalf of the Limassol Municipality and the City Council, we bid farewell to a man who was part of the life and history of this city. My friend Dimi, Limassol, which you loved so much, bids you farewell today; we bid you farewell with sadness, but also with gratitude for your journey, for your presence, and for everything you leave behind. “May you have a safe journey. May your memory live on forever,” he added.
The President of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Limassol Chamber of Trades and Crafts, Andreas Tsoulofta, said in his speech that “It is with deep sorrow that we learned early Saturday afternoon the very sad news of the untimely passing of Dimos Mavropoulos.”
“It is truly a time of great sorrow that we find ourselves here today, and that I personally have the tragic duty of paying my final respects to him, although both I and everyone who had the opportunity to know him are still trying to come to terms with the fact that this remarkable man is no longer among us. Our beloved Dimi, we are here today to bid you a final farewell with boundless love and deep emotion. To bid farewell to a man who left his own indelible mark on Limassol—which he loved so dearly—on the business world, in our city’s tourism industry, in motorsports, and above all in the hearts of the people who were fortunate enough to know him,” he said.
As he put it, “We bid farewell to a delightful man with his own distinctive sense of humor, active, creative, and dynamic, who, through his hard work and love for Limassol, made a substantial contribution to the city’s development and progress.”
“Today we are not just saying goodbye to a great rally driver. We are not just saying goodbye to a successful businessman. We are not just saying goodbye to a collector and creator. We are saying goodbye to a prominent figure in our city, a man who left his own mark, and that is why his loss is so great. He passed away so suddenly, so unjustly, and so prematurely. My friend Dimis, we thank you for all you gave to Limassol. We thank you for all you contributed to the city’s business community, tourism, sports, and culture. We thank you for your friendship. Having lived a full life, Dimis has passed into eternity,” he said.
His passing, he continued, has ensured that we will remember him forever.
“I promise you, my friend, that yes, we will remember you forever. May the earth that covers him be light. Have a safe journey, my dear friend. May your memory live on forever,” she said.
Erma Stylianidi, bidding farewell to Dimis Mavropoulos, spoke of “a man of joy, creativity, and generosity” who deeply loved Limassol, its history, its culture, and its carnival. “Have a safe journey, our beloved King. Your throne will remain empty, but you will always be among us. May your memory live on forever,” he concluded.
Wreaths were laid by, among others, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, the Attorney General, Members of Parliament, party leaders and representatives, the former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, the former President of DISY, Averof Neophytou, ministers, deputy ministers, members of Parliament, figures from the world of sports—and particularly motorsports. Mayors, deputy mayors, associations, organizations, companies, associates, friends of the deceased, and the public who attended the funeral.
Source: CNA
