Haralambos
(Bobby) Tzanetatos
Global Greek Businessman/Philanthropist
Panama
Global Greek Businessman/Philanthropist
Panama
Haralambos (or Bobby as he prefers to be known) Tzanetatos, is one of
our most amazing Global Greeks!
Bobby left his native Sami in the recently earthquake stricken Ionian
island of Kefallonia at the age of 16, in 1950 with one dream, one goal… to get
enough money together to buy a car. That, he told me many years ago when we
first met, was the only ambition he had when he went to Panama to join
his uncle who was working there. He worked hard and got enough money to buy
himself a car, but he did so much more than that.
Now one of Panama's wealthiest and most 'connected' citizens, Bobby, an astute and hard-working businessman has never forgotten his origins, his island, his people or his family values, remaining above all, true to himself, with enormous humility, generosity and a helping hand always extended to aid those less fortunate than he – a philanthropist in every sense of the word.
Now one of Panama's wealthiest and most 'connected' citizens, Bobby, an astute and hard-working businessman has never forgotten his origins, his island, his people or his family values, remaining above all, true to himself, with enormous humility, generosity and a helping hand always extended to aid those less fortunate than he – a philanthropist in every sense of the word.
Influential, dynamic and forward thinking but characteristically low
profile and unpretentious, Bobby, like so many of our
Global Greeks, has put in a lot of time, effort and resources to ensure the
Greek flag is flown with pride and honour in their part of the world. At the
height of ex-President Noriega’s falling from grace, shortly before he was
exiled, Bobby even spent a couple of days on the pretext of importing arms in
containers marked as New Zealand Butter, simply because he was on the opposite
side.
As Greece's Honorary Consul in Panama for many years now, he has used
every single weapon he has to assist his home country and his countrymen when
needed.
Bobby has used the economic benefits he worked so hard to attain
and was fortunate to amass to benefit the not-so-fortunate. He has contributed
to many projects and charities in Panama and Miami, donating time and money and
work behind the scenes for the benefit of Greece and all things Greek in that
part of the world. He has donated the funds and the land for building the
ATHENA (ATENEA) Greek School in Panama and has also created the
Museum adjacent to it.
Deeply religious and having offered a great deal to the Greek Orthodox Church, Bobby has been honoured with the title of Archon by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Deeply religious and having offered a great deal to the Greek Orthodox Church, Bobby has been honoured with the title of Archon by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Given the special honour of hosting Bobby when he came to the other side
of the world to meet his product suppliers, I took him on a tour of the city
and took great pride in showing him around our city’s Greek Community Centre
and of course our Greek Orthodox Church, Evangelismos tis Theotokou. I had the
keys to the church as a committee member and he wanted to light a candle… You can imagine the look on the face of the
treasurer to find a couple of crisp 100 US Dollar bills in the pagari, when he opened
it the next day.
When Archbishop Christodoulos of Greece was in Miami for the liver transplant he was going
to get it was Bobby's house he was staying at and it was Bobby's cousin, the
lifesaving transplant surgeon Andreas Tzakis who would perform that operation.
Things didn't work out for him but that Christmas, Bobby came to Athens with Andreas
Tzakis and went to see the ailing Archbishop in his home in Filothei.
The next evening Bobby, with his long-time friend and business
associate, John Scurtis of Miami,
held a small gathering really to honour Andreas Tzakis... We count ourselves
lucky to have been among those invited to that function, simply because we were
able to hear first hand the amazing stories of unheralded philanthropy from the
people who had been the recipients...children, parents and others who had been
touched by the magic hands of Dr Tzakis, the welcomed assistance of Bobby and
of his close friends in Miami, John and Evangeline Scurtis, two wonderful
people, two wonderful Global Greeks, who
have also made it their life’s work to willingly and generously help people in
need.
The Greek mother of a child who had been operated on by Dr Tzakis some
years before told us how they arrived in Miami
to be greeted by John and Bobby at the airport... at Bobby's request John
introduced Bobby as his chauffeur!
Sadly, life has not been as kind to the Tzanetatos family on a personal
level… 10 years ago they lost their daughter Irmita in a freak road accident
when she was only 21. 3 years ago their son-in-law, died while on holiday in Greece, and last
year they lost another beloved daughter, Lucy. So much tragedy to people who
have done nothing but good for their people, whether in Panama or in Greece.
In Greece and in Kefalonia, and Sami in particular, the open hearted
generosity of Bobby Tzanetatos, who lets no call for help from his countrymen
go unanswered, is well-known but not always recorded, as he is also a very
private man working quietly and anonymously much of the time.
In Panama,
apart from the Greek school and Museum, Bobby has contributed to many charities
and philanthropic causes. He has established the Lucy Tzanetatos Neurological
Foundation and his latest project is the
development of a giant hospital complex in Panama, a bio-feedback clinic in honour
of his daughter Lucy doing bio-feedback studies and the Lucy Tzanetatos Home
which provides free lodging, medical care, meals, clothing and activities for
mothers who have very sick children in the hospital and have nowhere to stay.
Bobby’s ethos and drive means that despite his personal tragedies he
continues just as he has done for so many years, working hard and heavily
involved in his numerous business interests, which are wide and varied, and
encompass supermarkets, real estate and shipping, to name but a few.
From us at Global Greek World, we want to
thank him for all he has done for Hellenism and wish him a very happy nameday today. May he be blessed with many many more in the years to come!
Χρόνια Πολλά και να είσαστε
πάντα καλά!
At Global Greek World, We ♥ Greece...and it shows!
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