George K. Sainopoulos - Mayor of Sparta, Honorary President of the Sainopouleion Foundation
George K. Sainopoulos was born in 1915 in the village of Magoula in Laconia. His father was mathematician Konstantinos Sainopoulos, who had been honoured with the order of the "Phoenix", and his mother was Artemisia Tzivanopoulos (of the well-known Tzivanopoulos family). He completed his elementary studies in Magoula and Sparta and then studied to become a pharmacist in Athens. At the same time, he studied music and the violin at the Hellenic Conservatory of Athens with the Dutch teacher Tony Schulze.
In 1960, he served as president of the Spartan Gymnastics Association and the Ephorate of the National Stadium and in 1968, he married Chrysavgi Christodoulos. He practised his profession as a pharmacist for 35 consecutive years (until 1985) and was elected Mayor of Sparta for two four-year terms (1964-1967, 1974-1988).
He implemented essential projects while giving his salary to his fellow poor citizens during his tenure. Also, during his second term as mayor, by the decision of the Municipal Council, he instituted the official commemoration of the 118 Laconians whom the Germans executed in Monodendri. After the end of his mayoral term, he devoted himself with love and zeal to the social, cultural and sports work of the Sainopouleion Foundation, for which he has been honoured by the Academy of Athens (1990), the local church, the Municipality of Sparta and other important institutions of the city.
George K. Sainopoulos passed away on April 23rd, 2010, at the age of 95, and his great work is continued by his wife and current President of the Sainopouleion Foundation, Chrysavgi Sainopoulos.