J&P founder Stelios Joannou dies at 84

By Athena Karsera

THE co-founder of one of the most prominent Cypriot construction companies, Stelios Christos Joannou, died in Nicosia general hospital during emergency heart surgery yesterday. He was 84.

The operation began at approximately 6am after Joannou experienced complications following aorta replacement surgery on Friday. He died half an hour later.

Joannou was born in Lefkara in 1915 but moved to Nicosia as a child where he attended primary and secondary school. He created Joannou and Paraskevaides Ltd with George Paraskevaides shortly after the Second World War.

The pair had first formed a partnership in 1940 to carry out construction work in the defence sector.

J&P, as the company became known, extended its business overseas in 1961, attaining international recognition.

Besides his commitments to J&P, Joannou served on the administration boards of several banks and other organisations, and he will also be remembered for his charitable work.

Along with his wife Ellie, whom he married in 1938, Joannou set up and funded the Christos Stelios Joannou Foundation in memory of the couple’s late son Christos. The Foundation provides aid for children with special needs. Joannou more recently financed a home for mentally retarded old people.

Joannou was also one of the founders of the Ayia Skepi centre for the rehabilitation of young people with drug problems.

He is survived by his children, Dakis and Sylvia.

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