Paraskevaides laid to rest

BUSINESSMAN and philanthropist George Paraskevaides, co-founder of the Joannou and Paraskevaides empire, was buried in Nicosia yesterday.

The funeral at the Church of Panayia Evangelistria in Pallouriotissa was presided over by Archbishop Chrysostomos and attended by the country’s political leadership, led by President Tassos Papadopoulos.

“We bid farewell to a person that was the incarnation of humanity, a patriot and a benefactor,” Papadopoulos said in his eulogy.

“The state, society, the population of Cyprus and every citizen will mourn him, as will those who were the recipients of his kindness will keep him in their memories.”

Chrysostomos in his tribute to Paraskevaides also said he would remain in everyone’s memory because of his life and work. He described Paraskevaides as simple, affable, modest and humble, but at the same time an active participant in all his undertakings.

At the funeral, a message was also read from former US President Jimmy Carter, who described Paraskevaides as a great man and that he was proud the renowned Cypriot had touched his own life.

Paraskevaides died last week at The London Clinic, aged 91.

The rags-to-riches tale of the founders of one of the leading construction and development companies in the world started when Paraskevaides, fresh out of university after World War II, partnered with Stelios Joannou to establish J&P.

Beyond J&P, the Paraskevaides Group includes Cosmos Developers in Cyprus and Greece and GP Homes in the US, medical distributors Phadisco, consumer goods distributors Christodoulides Bros, EP Global Energy and maintains interests in Pepsi Co. bottling plants and KFC franchises in Cyprus and the region, as well as hotels in Cyprus and Greece.

Paraskevaides also gave a lot back to the community, founding the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation, which sends sick Cypriot children to the US for medical care.

The foundation has provided numerous scholarships for less fortunate Cypriots. Paraskevaides also founded the Cyprus Kidney Association, the Surgical and Transplant Foundation and the Cyprus Heart Association.
He received several prestigious honours, including the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.