Stefanos Linaios was not only a great theater man. He was not only a man of art with a career, ethos and contribution. He was a fighter for life. A man with a capital A. A rare man, one of those you don't meet easily and who, when they leave, leave behind a void that cannot be filled.
For me, Mr. Linaios was much more than an important collaborator. From the first moment I created the newspaper, he stood by me in a selfless, tender, almost paternal way. He supported me without noise, without conditions, without ever letting a trace of selfishness show. Every week he sent his articles, his thoughts, his words, with consistency, kindness and true generosity. Without that meaningless "you know who I am" that we so often encounter today from people who have not actually done anything great. He knew very well who he was, but he had no need to advertise it. His value was evident from his attitude, from his ethos, from his quality.
Every time I thanked him, he was moved like a little child. With an innocence and a purity of soul that touched you deeply. His words were always full of kindness and goodness. When we did him the honor he deserved, he was moved in a way that I will never forget. He did not stand before us like a "great" man demanding recognition. He stood humbly, humanly, truly.
I will never forget that day when I came to your house to bring you my book. You had called me and told me with your familiar warmth, “I want it yesterday, my Ioanna.” When I arrived, you came out to the door. Due to coronavirus, I did not want to go inside, I kept a distance with respect and caution. But you extinguished all of that with a gesture of your heart. With that warmth of yours, with the open embrace of your soul, you began to shout loudly: “Elli, where are you? Come, Mrs. Lazarou is here.” You said it with honor, with love, with generosity. That moment remained in me like a precious amulet. Because in a few seconds you showed me who you were. A person who knew how to value others. To honor them. To embrace them in a true way.
The last time I saw you was at an online presentation that you did us the honor of participating in. And again you were there as always, with kindness, with light, with a meaningful presence. You didn't just give your participation. You gave joy. You gave strength. You gave yourself.
Mr. Stefan, I will miss you.
I will miss your voice.
I will miss your kindness.
I will miss the purity of your soul.
I will miss the way you knew how to stand next to people without burdening them, but rather lifting them up.
But I promise you something. I will never let you be forgotten. Because people like you should not be forgotten. They should be remembered, honored, kept alive through their words, their actions, their memories, and their example.
I hope that wherever you go, you will continue to give joy, as you have done here. That you will continue to enlighten souls, to spread kindness, to offer that rare humanity that this world so needs.
Have a nice trip, Mr. Stefan.
With deep emotion, love and gratitude, I bid you farewell not only as a great man of the theater, but as one of my own.
And he said words about me that are never forgotten:
THANK YOU MRS LAZAROU
Mrs. Ioanna Lazarou deserves a big thank you, from all of us.
For the important work it does. For the great opportunity it gives to the Greek diaspora, to be informed about the history of our Homeland and its current problems. And also a big thank you for the opportunity it gives to all of us, to write to "Greek Radio FL" and to "Greek News".. To convey our thoughts and our anxieties for a better Homeland. And most importantly, for the objective and comprehensive information it offers to Greeks everywhere. . Mrs. Ioanna Lazarou, continue, you and your worthy associates, with health and courage, your National work.. We will always be by your side.. And again we thank you for everything..
Stefanos Linaios – Elli Fotiou
Best Regards,
Ioanna Lazarou
Publisher – Greek News & Radio FL | Businessrise Publishing
photo Greek News FL
