One of the longest serving and oldest agency friends of GE Seaco,
Dimitri Angelopulo, died on Tuesday, 3rd February 2004. He was 93. He leaves a
wife, Ilona and a large family of nephews and nieces, all of whom will miss him
dreadfully.
Born in Patras, Greece in July 1910, Dimitri grew up in the shipping
industry, being the third generation in the family firm of DT Angelopulo and
Sons, which he joined when he was only 15. The company acted as agents for
Ellerman’s and it was through this connection that he came to know Sea
Containers, becoming our agent in Greece in the early 1970s.
His own shipping company Chr.M.Sarlis and Co, which was established with
a partner in 1951, initially ran a conventional shipping service in the Eastern
Mediterranean before containerizing, using Strider vessels and SC containers.
A close friend of the Company for over thirty years, his support in its
early growth years was extended to the hotels, when he was appointed as a
director of the Hotel Cipriani, a position he held and enjoyed for many years.
An excellent linguist with fluency in German, French, Italian, English
as well as his native Greek, he was a true European businessman. He worked hard with a full commitment and
expected his staff to do the same. He
never retired and continued working up to the end. Although tough on his staff, he was generous and kind, almost to
a fault, and was regarded with affection by all who came in touch with him.
GE Seaco as a company, and its staff past and present, will miss a true
friend.
Obituary notice provided by Andrew Lavey