In memory of Anna Dontas Frangeskides

In memory of Anna Dontas Frangeskides, by John Faraclas and Anny Zade

We devote this last article for 2024 to the memory of Anna Dontas Frangeskides, our dearest Anna of Chios who, like all Chian Seamaidens, begun last August her journey in the Sea of Eternity.

Met Anna back in 2009 at the annual dinner and dance of the Chios Association in the United Kingdom which she founded as an philanthropic association. Anna, a philanthropist herself, among others tried to keep the Chian Flame alive, and she did!

Emanating from the Chian village of Fyta in central/north Chios she got involved in the fashion trade in London. Her family emigrated to the USA and at the 2009 Chian Ball her brothers and their families come to support her in London!

Anna is in our hearts and thoughts for her charismatic and down to earth personality and we extent our thoughts this very moment to her husband Christos and her four children, Costas, George, Andreas and Alex as well as to her six grandchildren Christopher, Demos, Andreas, Cristina, Ariana and Eva, as well as to all those who knew her.

At the end of August, with Anny Zade, we paid tribute to her by visiting Anna’s birthplace, the heroic village of Fyta (The village of Plants in free translation) spending our day there with locals who knew her at the Ayerino tavern (Ταβερνα Αγερινο) Ayerino means airy/windy.

Anna Donta, despite her very busy daily program and family obligations, managed to participate at the HESGB Annual Dinner & Balls, always smiling and dancing Greek Islanders Folklore dances. She was very much interested for the Shipping Industry and whenever we were talking, she always asked: “Yianni, pou einai ta navla?” (Yianni -John- were do we stand with the freight rates?). Many members of her vast family were seafarers.

She introduced me to her sons Costas and Alex. Costas, a prominent shipping and insurance / reinsurance lawyer in the heart of the Square Mile, with nearly 30 years of practice / experience, now a partner at Wordley Partnership with whom we cooperate. Alex, a media person he organised one of my ever best live interviews in 2012 at the height of the Greek Crisis – close to GREXIT, with CNBC Channel. Anna was very much living all this and she followed us in nearly all our interviews with zest and zeal in the site and beyond!

Moreover, at a time of reorganising the Chios Association in UK back in 2011, we met at her residence with fellow Chian intellectual, writer, lawyer and shipping personality Kostas Kavvadas and were we witnessed her organisational charity skills! Her design skills were unique, not only in fashion, but also in graphic design; who can forget the logo of the Chios Association in UK?

Anna was also a staunch supporter for the return of the Parthenon Marbles and we had long discussions on the issue.

Anna epitomised the Chian Lady, in other words, Την Χιωτισσα Δεσποινα !!!!

Safe journeys dear Anna!