Fotini Papadopoulos
Fotini Papadopoulos | |
|---|---|
Φωτεινή Παπαδόπουλος | |
Fotini Papadopoulos in 2006 | |
| First Lady of Cyprus | |
| In office 28 February 2003 – 28 February 2008 | |
| President | Tassos Papadopoulos |
| Preceded by | Lila Irene Clerides |
| Succeeded by | Elsie Chiratou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 March 1950 Paris, France |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 4, including Constantinos and Nikolas |
| Parent |
|
Fotini Papadopoulos (née Leventis, Greek: Φωτεινή Παπαδόπουλος; born 6 March 1950) is a Cypriot philanthropist. She is the widow of president of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos, and as such is a former First Lady of Cyprus.
Life
Papadopoulos was born on 6 March 1950 in Paris, France, as the daughter of renowned businessman and philanthropist Anastasios George Leventis.[1][2][3] She studied and grew up in Paris.[2]
In 1967, she married politician Polycarpos Giorkatzis, with whom she had two children, Constantinos and Maria.[1] Giorkatzis was murdered in March 1970 and Fotini identified the murderer, although the murder was never solved.[1]
She married Tassos Papadopoulos in 1972, with whom she had two children, Nikolas and Anastasia.[1][3]
Papadopoulos has been a member of the Cyprus Red Cross since 1973, of which she is also president since 2004, and she created its youth department shortly before the Turkish invasion of 1974.[1][4][3] She created several programmes that helped to promote volunteering in schools.[1]
She became First Lady of Cyprus on 28 February 2003 after his husband Tassos was sworn in President of Cyprus.[5] That year Fotini was named "Women of Europe" by the Cyprus Council of the International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe.[6] During her tenure, Fotini organised social and charitable events at the Presidential Palace.[2]
Tassos died on 12 December 2008 from cancer.[7] After Tassos' corpse was stolen in December 2009, Fotini confirmed on 9 March 2010 the discovery of his body after DNA testing confirmed it.[8]
Honors
- Honorary Member of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika (Malta, 2005).[9]
- Commander of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece, 2014).[10]
- Legion of Honor (France, 2023)[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Παπαδοπούλου Φωτεινή" [Papadopoulou Fotini]. Polignosi– The Great Cypriot Encyclopaedia (in Greek). Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Οι Πρώτες Κυρίες της Κύπρου από το 1977 μέχρι σήμερα" [The First Ladies of Cyprus from 1977 to the present day] (in Greek). must.com.cy. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Economides, Marina (15 January 2018). "Και η Φωτεινή στην προεκλογική" [And Fotini in the election campaign]. Kathimerini (in Greek). Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "History of Establishment". Cyprus Red Cross. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "Cypriot president is sworn in". Kathimerini. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "First lady is Cyprus' 'Woman of Europe'". Cyprus Mail. 1 November 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "Former Cyprus President Papadopoulos Dies of Cancer". Fox News. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "'Ransom' motive for theft of Cyprus ex-leader's body". BBC News. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "PAST RECIPIENTS OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL ORDERS AND DATE OF CONFERMENT" (PDF). Government of Malta. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "Honorary distinction of Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou". Cyprus Red Cross. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ "H τιμητική διάκριση που έλαβε η Φωτεινή Παπαδοπούλου" [The honorary distinction received by Fotini Papadopoulou]. Madame Figaro Cyprus (in Greek). 30 November 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2026.