30 years without Stavros Niarchos: The tycoon’s final days in Zurich – The stroke and his son Konstantinos by his side

Konstantinos Niarchos was successful a hurry that Sunday, April 14, 1996, driving to the Zurich session wherever his begetter was hospitalized.

Stavros Niarchos’ information showed nary betterment aft the superior changeable helium had suffered weeks earlier successful his beloved Saint Moritz.

At 86 years old, the antheral of six marriages, immense wealth, and a beingness worthy of a caller was present a shadiness of his erstwhile self.

Even earlier the stroke, helium had trouble walking owed to aged property and often needed assistance. A photograph taken soon earlier showed him walking slowly, supported by his lad Philippos, successful Saint Moritz connected the mode to a household meal.

The charismatic shipowner, known for his dry—almost British—sense of humor, who smoked specially ordered cigarettes engraved with his initials, was present heading toward his last and loneliest journey.

The Final Days

He was past seen successful precocious February 1996, erstwhile Saint Moritz was preparing for outpouring and the chalets of the affluent were opening for parties and gatherings.

By aboriginal March, however, the Niarchos household chalet stood retired for its antithetic silence.

Rumors began circulating that the patriarch was unwell, spreading from the Swiss Alps to elite societal circles successful Zurich and Geneva.

Officially, nary accusation was given—consistent with the family’s long-standing secrecy.

Very fewer radical knew the truth: the Greek tycoon had suffered a terrible changeable and was being treated successful strict confidentiality successful a Zurich clinic.

His Son by His Side

His youngest son, Konstantinos, visited him daily, sitting beside him for hours.

This was astonishing to those who knew that their narration had often been strained.

Niarchos had adjacent erstwhile responded “Who?” erstwhile asked astir Konstantinos astatine societal events.

Yet now, the lad remained perpetually by his father’s side, sometimes with his siblings, but often alone, speaking to him for hours.

No 1 knows what helium said.

The End

In aboriginal April, Niarchos’ information worsened arsenic his captious organs began to fail.

On Monday, April 15, 1996, helium passed distant successful his infirmary furniture successful Zurich, six weeks aft his stroke.

His ceremonial took spot 3 days aboriginal successful a Greek Orthodox religion successful Lausanne, attended lone by adjacent household and a fewer friends.

He was buried astatine the Boix-de-Vaux cemetery successful Lausanne, adjacent to his 3rd wife.

Many of the fewer attendees could not clasp backmost their tears arsenic they said farewell to the visionary shipowner who had built an empire.