Mimis is gone! He passed away shortly before his 100th birthday. A week separated him from his century. His road to Ithaca was rich, long, and complete, full of melody. His ethos and kindness seemed like a lantern light, always wrapped in wonderful melodies that began for me with the story of Tina and Mimis would speak of Tina. It was also Al Martino, Toni Maroudas, and Stella Greka. It was a Waltz. It came with the liberation of Athens from its German occupation. In 2016, Mimis presented one of his last works, Transparent Cross, on the occasion of 50 years of his Rendezvous on the Air Waves, and his first recorded work.

Somewhere there is, and not just somewhere, my love, a song, but also a misplaced recording of Mimi’s, which was made in support of public health and its related Athens School. It was the year 1992. The recording was made by his son, Antony Plessas, and because of a technical snag, it was reassembled after the fact. Mimis presented a nostalgic lecture-recital heard at the Tower of the Winds. Mimi’s performance for public health was introduced by the writer and Dimitris Horn who I likened to the latter to Laurence Olivier. He told an inspiring story of Greek music or a cultural travelogue through Greek music while the distinguished audience of leading public health experts from Greece, Turkey, and around the world enjoyed his words and music. His words brought a short-lived reaction from a young Turkish doctor who was reined in nicely by Mimis and Professor Diriken, a distinguished public health expert.

Mimis' participation in the Goulandri-Horn Foundation in Plaka began in Monemvasia, as he gave a piano recital by moonlight. I can still see my wife, Tina, approaching him and whispering something in his ear. Her smile told me that Mimi was in. He surprised me later when he told us that he always wanted to speak to a healthcare audience. The rest is history, although I have lost the tiny tape of the aforementioned recording, which was distributed everywhere. Recently a friend from Spain reminded me of Athens in 1992 and of a wonderful lecture-recital in Plaka, a recital for which the then Minister of Health gave full support and the Rockefeller Foundation sent a representative.

As a historical reminder, the Rockefeller Foundation supported the creation of the Athens School of Public Health by the then-prime minister Eleftherios in 1929. Venizelos is the only politician who inaugurated two Schools of Public Health in two different countries, which runs parallel to the same sentiments expressed for the Athens School of Public Health over its entire lifetime (1929-2019).

When Mimis left for America, it was ostensibly to continue his study in chemistry that had started in the School of Physics and Mathematics of the University of Athens. Instead he studied life, and while suffering from symptoms of nostos, he entered the world of music, one he had already entered as a youth. In the beginning of his musical career, his compositions were viewed with suspicion and reservation. In a brilliant career spanning seven decades of creative life and contributions to Greek culture. Today, his contributions to culture are adored. Mimis Plessas was a true virtuoso pianist and conductor. He has conducted many of the greatest orchestras in the world. He is recognized for his theatrical contributions in Paris as well as for his cinematography in Edinburgh and the USA.

Mimis Plessas loved visiting Greek villages and going to the village church. He loved to sit before his favorite piano and play unforgettable melodies for his audience and guests. Mimis' rare talent was presented at the 14th General Assembly of the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPHER) in the European Region. The Assembly was adorned with the presence of Marietta Giannakou, a lifelong supporter of public health who supported it in Brussels as a MEP; Anna Psarouda Benaki, who became an Academician and President of the Athens Academy; and Academicians Georgios Merikas and Konstantinos Dimopoulos.

I remember my feeling, as well as that of Mimi’s, of the perfect pitch of the piano, as it was tuned. During the program, there was a fun discussion about who first put feta in Greek salad, as well as a visit to the Museum of Natural History, where the shrimp, in the hearty meal, were gigantic. We were invited by Mrs. Niki Goulandri, a lady with a capital L, a strong supporter of public health and the Athens School of Health. I can see Elizabeth Petsetaki, an expert on tobacco control, along with her husband, standing gracefully, greeting visitors at the entrance to the museum, while succulent shrimps waited their fate inside, delayed by an interesting but lengthy speech by an Academician.

The results of the General Assembly process are the strengthening of the Athens School of Health in a time of crisis, the elaboration of a highly developed roadmap for public health activities in Greece, and new ideas for better preparing the state to deal with the health consequences of possible future crises, such as the current one. In 1992, the prestigious Andrija Stampar Medal was inaugurated, which today is the most prestigious award for public health internationally. On the medal are engraved words of Stampar, namely, the inscription Investing in public health brings rich harvests and rewards. In addition, in 1992, Melina Mercouri congratulated the Athens School of Health and its contribution to public health and culture, while in the report of the so-called "wise men" of 1994, it was recorded that postgraduate education in public health was satisfactorily utilized, but insufficiently so in Greece. Mimis Plessas' little-known, however, astonishing public health support was invaluable.

Cheers, guys, with Godspeed. Στην Υγειά Μας Ρε Παιδιά!