|
|
 |
| |
Costas Kontourou |
Hundreds in farewell to ‘Don’
Moving tributes to Gunners fanatic who suffered from rare blood condition
HUNDREDS of well-wishers filled St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Kentish Town on Friday to pay tribute to a man known as “The Don”.
Costas Kontourou, who lived in Kentish Town, died recently, aged 48, in the Royal Free Hospital after a short battle with liver cancer.
He had been born with thalassemia, a rare inherited blood condition which prevented him from receiving full treatment.
A devoted Arsenal fan, Mr Kontourou was buried wearing a Robin van Persie Gunners shirt – his coffin was cloaked in a club flag signed by the players.
Around 600 friends and family attended, some coming from as far as Australia and New York, with many wearing official red Arsenal ties signed with messages of support.
Speaking at the service, Mr Kontourou’s nephew Louie said: “People can’t live forever, but I thought you would be okay. I thought they would find a cure for you. Everyone loved and cared for you and we used to play the Wii together and remember we used to play the golf and you used to beat me every time. I will always remember all the good memories and they will always stay with the family and me – so I wish you the best and I will always love you. You will always be my uncle and in my heart.”
Mr Kontourou was born in 1961 and lived in Wilmot Place, off Rochester Square. He went to Holy Trinity and St Silas school in Kentish Town and later Acland Burghley in Tufnell Park.
His first job was with Leonard Lyle & Co, then the foremost suppliers of legal clothing to barristers working at the Old Bailey.
In a recent interview, he said: “I must have seen more judges’ underpants than was good for me by the time I was 18.” He went on to work with his family’s clothing business and later set up his own travel company.
Mr Kontourou was diagnosed with thalassemia aged six months and became one of the founding members of the UK Thalassemia Society in 1976. He campaigned to raise awareness of the condition, which is prevalent in Mediterranean families, throughout his life.
Society co-ordinator Elaine Miller said: “Costas’s greatest talent was a talent for friendship. The UK Thalassemia Society office has received countless messages in the past two weeks from people who knew and loved Costas.”
Mr Kontourou’s first love was for Arsenal Football Club – his friends said he knew many of the players personally and that Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas put his hand to his chest in memory of Mr Kontourou after scoring a goal in the Champions League last month.
An Arsenal spokeswoman said: “As a club we send out sincere condolences to Costas’s family at this very sad time.”
Patsy Andrews, who lived next door to Mr Kontourou when they were children, recalled a fun-packed childhood, full of pranks and mischief. “He was a beacon of light and a selfless true gent,” she added.
Mr Kontourou is survived by his sister Georgina and his mother Myriamthi.
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
