The remarkable legacy of Costas Apostolidis

It's been one week since the passing of Costas Apostolidis - a visionary entrepreneur, founder of industrial surge protection manufacturer Raycap and a generous philanthropist with an enduring impact on his hometown of Drama and beyond - and his death still has many Greeks reeling. 

The atmosphere at the funeral on Monday at Athens' First Cemetery was one of deep sorrow and numbness, as relatives, friends and notable public figures alike were in disbelief about the sudden loss of a man with abundant creativity and energy, and a pioneer that achieved countless accomplishments. 

"If you try to say a lot for Costas Apostolidis, it will never be enough," Antypas Karipoglou, a prominent lawyer from his northern Greek hometown tells Kathimerini. "I'd rather only say two words: a generous man".

Born in Drama in 1948 to a family of migrants from the Pontus region,...