Grandfather-of-six George Loizou, a pillar of Southampton‘s Greek-Cypriot community who established more than 15 of Southampton’s best-loved restaurants over a 40-year period, has died aged 83.
Mr Loizou was a prominent figure and laid the foundations of the city’s Greek Cypriot community.
He organised the consecration of the Greek Orthodox Church of Nicholas once the Church of England granted the Cypriot community the Church of St James in Bernard Street, Southampton.
Mr Loizou was asked to act as president of the church and was sworn into the position in 1970.
With the Greek community growing rapidly, Mr Loizou saw the need and importance of forming a Greek school.
He enjoyed his role in the church and raised a family with wife Theano, 82.
They worked round the clock to build the businesses and put their vision of restaurants and takeaways into practice.
From 1960, Mr Loizou owned the Rialto restaurant, Olympia, Four Ways Diner, Triangle Diner, The Bassett Diner, Bevois Valley fish bar, the Master Chef, the Hacienda, the Boss, Lodge Road Fish Bar, the Continental, the Golden Chippy, the Kebab House, Oscars restaurant and Aphrodite restaurant.
When his children were old enough, they starting with washing up, stacking shelves and waiting tables at his establishments.
Son Peter, 46, said: “When the going got tough at the end of the evening, dad would motivate us by saying his very special one liner, which we use today to motivate our staff and children – ‘Come on, one last push!’”
Peter, who works in the motor industry, added his father was proud of his children, with Anna working in business administration and Louis, 48, working in the computer industry.
Anna, 47, said: “Even though he was unable to participate in his passion for football, while building his portfolio, he was a devoted Saints supporter, after retiring he was able to attend the odd home match.
“He took his role very seriously, doing what he did best, pulling ranks with his fellow Greek community members, organising Greek evenings and raising money for the school and church.
“Today the Southampton Greek Cypriot community can owe thanks to the hundreds of children who have successfully passed their exams in Greek and are able to read and write the language.”
Mr Loizou retired in 2003 and volunteered to help with the League of Friends restaurant in the Royal South Hants hospital.
His funeral will take place at the Church of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Bernard Street on Tuesday.
Mr Loizou will be driven past his favourite parts of Southampton before the service at 11am. It will be undertaken by Archbishop Gregorious of Thyateira and Great Britain, who oversaw the marriage of George and Theano in 1962, and Southampton’s Greek Cypriot community priest Father Vasili
