Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has marked four years since the passing of her father, Papou Eleftherios Passaris.
In a statement shared via her X account on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Passaris reflected on her father’s life, legacy, and the love that defined him.
“Yesterday, we marked the 4th anniversary of my father’s passing, my father, aka Papou Eleftherios Passaris. Although I could not travel to Mombasa to be with family, I was deeply blessed to attend a memorial service held for him at the Greek Orthodox Seminary,” she wrote.
Describing the service held in honour of her father, Passaris praised the sacred music, the melodies of the seminary fathers, and the depth of prayer, which she said created a moment of stillness and grace that words can scarcely capture. It was beautiful to simply stand in prayer and entrust my father’s soul to God.
She expressed gratitude to Archbishop Makarios, who had known her father for many years and supported him through his illness until his passing.
“Having His Eminence offer the memorial prayers yesterday was a true blessing and meant more to our family than I can express,” she added.
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Passaris paid tribute to her father again on Father’s Day in 2025, remembering him not only as a devoted parent but also as a man who kept his promises and built his life from humble beginnings. She recounted the love story between her parents, revealing how her father, a young naval architect in the Greek Navy, first met her mother, Mary Marietta Wanjiru Joubert, during a naval mission in Mombasa.
“Though their time together was brief, he made a promise: ‘As soon as I finish my mandatory duty in the Navy, I will return for you’. And he kept his word,” Passaris wrote. She recalled how her father’s letters to her mother, written in what she described as imperfect English but perfect love, are still treasured by her mother today.
Passaris also detailed her father’s professional journey, starting with his first job at Southern Engineering Company Ltd., a marine and offshore engineering firm in Mombasa. He later rose through the ranks, trained dozens of young professionals, and eventually founded his own marine engineering company, HELMACO.
“He also supported the youth by founding the Ngome Football Club, promoting teamwork, community, and discipline,” Passaris said.
Reflecting on her father’s character, she described him as a strict but loving man whose discipline shaped her life.
