Shipowner Giorgos Vardinoyannis, widely known as “The Captain,” has died at the age of 90. He passed away on Friday, October 16, 2026, following a brief hospitalization.
Born in 1936 in Episkopi, Rethymno, Vardinoyannis was one of ten children of Ioannis Vardinoyannis and Chrysi Theodoroulaki. The Vardinoyannis family has deep roots in Crete, tracing its origins to Sfakia and Rethymno, and several of his siblings went on to build prominent careers in politics, shipping and business.
Vardinoyannis charted a different course from many of his siblings, choosing the merchant navy. He trained at the School of Navigation in Southampton, England, and went on to build his professional life in shipping.
His nickname, “The Captain,” was tied to his seafaring career. According to the well-known account, he earned it after breaking the embargo imposed on Rhodesia, present-day Zimbabwe, at a time of intense political and military turmoil.
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He was also active in the institutions of Greek shipping, serving two terms on the board of directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners.
His name, however, became most closely associated with Panathinaikos, which he led as president for nearly two decades, from July 1979 to May 2000.