Finding the right words to articulate the man known as Thanasi is a tremendous task; one which I will regardless attempt with love and humility.
A migrant to Australia in the early 70s, like many others, Thanasi came out on the Patris and bid his beloved village Nisi, and his parents Dionysios and Stamatia, farewell to embark on an unknown journey. Thanasi was in his late twenties when he decided to come to Australia on an adventure. His unquenchable thirst and his insatiable appetite for living was fuelled with a vigorous energy that beamed from every pore in his body. He had an aura so bright that when he smiled at you, or spoke to you, or hugged you, or drank ouzo with you, you had no other choice but to succumb to the joy that was Thanasi and join him in that moment, ever so present and real.
I don’t want to fill a paragraph with adjectives as they would be biased words that any proud child suffering a great loss could use to describe their father. Rather, I would like to use the words of others to describe him; his friends, the people who came to know him in Australia, the friends back home who he would visit regularly over the years from ksenitia, those who worked with him and those who crossed paths with him during his time on this earth. Friends from the soccer field, the theatre stage, the cafeterias, the bouzoukia, the streets of the CBD, the streets of Oakleigh, Thessaloniki, Alexandria, Nisi, Brunswick, Kew, Sandringham and Bentleigh; Thanasis was generous, warmhearted, infectious, supportive, filotimos, a pioneer, limitless.
During the earlier years in Melbourne, when he wasn’t at Medallion or with his family at his home on Beach Rd in Sandringham, he was with his friends drinking and celebrating life; always the life of the party, always the one to make everyone laugh and feel great around him. He gave so much of himself to make others feel amazing around him. And he didn’t do it intentionally, he did it naturally from within. It’s who he was. A magnetic force of positive vibes that gave all those around him the courage to keep going when they were down and the reassurance to keep achieving for others on their way up. He supported the youth and everyone was an equal. Whether you were 15, 25, 55 or 85, Thanasi had no boundaries when it came to friendships, just like-minded spirits. I recall dad helping so many graduates from University by being their first client to show his support to them and to give a good ‘podariko’ for their business. He believed in the human spirit so much. He believed in our potential to be great and gave us all the kind words of encouragement to go for it.
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In the later years after Vanilla opened, when he wasn’t having a coffee, a cigarette or an ouzo with a meze at the shop, he spent a lot of time cultivating a huge garden at home with produce and flowers and herbs and fairy lights for all seasons. The music played on a little radio in his greenhouse, ducks would randomly appear in the garden and rosella birds would be shooed away from the edible treasures he produced all year round. I think this is where he reenergised and gathered his thoughts to reminisce in his heart and take a moment to give thanks. He was solemn in that garden, happy and busy.
Thanasi was the always the magnanimous host in his home and in his workplace. The countless BBQ’s, parties, celebrations, get-togethers over the years were full of music and joy. Our backyard in Sandringham was the amphitheatre of life – we grew up with famous musicians, singers, actors & politicians from Greece and Australia around us. Thank God he bought one of the first National VHS video recorders available in Australia in the early 80’s and we have many memories now that we can cherish over and over again.
Synonymous with the name Thanasi is his catchphrase “power”. He would clench his fists in front of his body in almost a hug embrace and say it proud. That gorgeous distinct voice of his (which we try to imitate but it hurts our throat after a sentence) would beam loud and clear. He walked into any room and ears would prick up when that voice spoke. A smile would radiate from everyone when he said hello and immediately a sense of delight would overcome us. We were happy with Thanasi around. We were secure. One look and we knew what he was thinking.
His closest friends and his siblings will miss him more than I can ever imagine and their memories are burnt deep in their hearts until they meet again. His wife, Eleni, was the ever-loving and beautiful woman who stood by his side for 46 years and was there with him when he took his last breath. Their love was whole and purposeful. Together they celebrated the marriages of their four children and together they welcomed 8 grandchildren. He guided all of his children, Vicki, Haroula, Dennis and myself to fear nothing and gave us the freedom and confidence to realise our paths. He cherished his son in laws, Christo, Antoni and George and his daughter in law Chantal and treated them with equal love. His grandchildren Regina, Eleni, Theodore, Thanasis, Angelique, Athina, Eleni and Rosina will draw their family trees and pause each and every time their pen writes his name, because through us and their own experiences they will know exactly what it means to have that name on their branches.
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His triumphs and tribulations could easily be written into tales fit for legends. And I think I share this sentiment with all who knew him, Thanasi was and will always be a legendary figure in our community. Thanasi mas, may your spirit soar high with the Angels that took you from this earth and may your light shine bright on us until we meet again.
Aionia i mnimi sou Nasio.