Theodore Skalkos, the publisher of The Greek Herald had a stroke on Tuesday. He was rushed to the hospital and died soon after.
Mr Skalkos had played a pivotal role in the development of the Greek-speaking press in Australia.
Sources from The Greek Herald said that Mr Skalkos did not go to his newspaper’s offices as usual on Tuesday.
In the afternoon, his daughter Dimitra entered his apartment and found him unresponsive in his bed. He was rushed to hospital and was pronounced dead at 3pm.
The cause of death is believed to have been a stroke.
Melbourne journalist George Galanis confirmed news of his death. “It’s unbelievable,” he said.
The Greek Herald editor Michael Mystakidis, who rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news, told Neos Kosmos that Mr Skalkos had celebrated his 87th birthday recently with a cruise around Sydney Harbour. “He had a premonition that he would go and told us that this would be his last birthday. It proved to be true,” Mr Mystakidis said.
Over the years, Mr Skalkos had brought famous Greek performers to Australia, and he also owned a radio station, had television shows, had a printing press and a travel agency. He owned The Greek Herald, Ellinis and other newspapers.
He had revolutionised the Greek press by using modern technology and even worked with Rupert Murdoch in the development of his newspapers.
Mr Skalkos also had many legal wrangles with prominent people, such as Australian Archbishop Stylianos and others.