Spyros Korosidis would come to our office regularly to visit his nephew, Neos Kosmos Editor-in-Chief Sotiris Hatzimanolis. A smile would never be missing from his face, and his arms would always be filled with sweet hand-made baklava, galaktoboureka and all manner of Greek pies and delicacies skilfully made by his wife, Kyria Vera.

The last time we saw him was a month ago, and though he was already stoically battling with illness and in the ninth decade of his life, we did not believe that most of us would not see him again.

“See you next time,” I casually flipped as he slowly walked away, and he tipped his head.

News of his death stunned us all this morning, even though Mr Hatzimanolis had prepared us for this possibility.

Though the Neos Kosmos family is saddened by his passing, the Greek community at large is also a little poorer with the loss of this tireless advocate for those less fortunate, who worked hard to serve others until the end. A small example of this could be seen at last year’s 25 March parade where he stood in the sun for hours, performing official duties along with people half his age, refusing to relax despite the heat and physical exhaustion.

To any ordinary person it seemed like quite a feat, but it was Mr Korosidis’ nature to put his needs second to those of others.

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A life of community service

Born in Alouro, near Pella, he arrived in Australia in 1954 and started his community work in Australia soon after with a Pontian group that helped create Panagia Soumela to offer economic help to charities and organisations which needed it as well as financial aid to vulnerable groups of people.

He founded Filippos and the Pammacedonian organisation, and held leadership and other official roles in a number of groups, including AHEPA and SEKKA. As such, he met stakeholders such as former Greek statesman Kostandinos Karamanlis. As a leader, he built connections between community groups and was a formidable proponent of Greek rights. His work has been honoured by nursing homes, hospitals and other organisations both Greece and Australia. Despite the satisfaction that these accolades bought, Mr Korosidis was motivated more by his innate drive to serve his fellow man and country which he had always attributed to his Christian upbringing.

Recognition for his contribution to the Australian community came during the Queen’s Birthday honours in 2016 when he was aged 89 years. He had told Mr Hatzimanolis during an interview at the time that he would continue to serve the community until the last breath he took – a promise which he kept.

READ MORE: Queen honours outstanding Greek Australians

He died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. He leaves behind his wife, Kyria Vera, three children, nine grandchildren, a great grandchild and an amazing legacy of service.

Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis on the death of Spyros Korosidis

I have known Spyros since the first day of my presidency.  He was generous and warm in his approach to me.  We quickly became friends.  He would often ring me with advice.  I would always listen and when I had something to say in return, he too would carefully listen.

I enjoyed the fact that we could communicate honestly and openly.  I valued his advice and friendship.

I thought he would live forever.  He was in his early 90s and he was still upright and fit.  I said to him late last year “Spyro, are you going to Greece in 2020?” he replied as he normally did “Of course I am going, there is nothing wrong with me”

He would come to my parents’ house with so much food cooked by his wife.  I said to Spyros, “with all of this food, how do you stay so trim?”

He replied “I don’t eat it, we bring it to you!!!!”

At each election of the board of the  Greek Community of Melbourne, his wife would bring to us many trays of tiropita.  It helped give us the energy we needed for those tough days!

He would tell me how much he loved Greece and his Macedonia and how each summer, he would live with his daughter in Athens.  I asked him, “did you take the main bedroom of your  daughter’s apartment in Athens”.  He replied, “in summer in Athens, you don’t need a bedroom.  I had a foldout bed for the balcony.  I slept outdoors all summer.”  I envied his strength.