“Destiny Prevails” Reveals Intimate Life Of Aristotle Onassis (NAPSA)—Aristotle Onassis died forty years ago on March 15, 1975. PAUL J. IOANNIDIS He wasone of the richest men in the world—some estimates say a billionaire long before billionaires became common. He owned the world’s most expensive yacht, a private island, an airline and so much more. But the main attribute that Aristotle Onassis displayed throughout his life was his courage. He showed courage in his personal and social life, as well as courage in his business ventures. He was a visionary with a very strong intuition and a manof simplicity. In one word, he wascharismatic. His long affair with the famous Greek opera star Maria Callas made headlines in the international press, but he married with the world’s most glamorous woman, Jacqueline Kennedy, widow ofthe slain president. Yet, despite his fame and fortune, Aristotle Onassis remained a mystery in many ways. But not to Paul J. Ioannidis, who worked for Onassis’ Olympic Airways as a pilot and later became one of his most trusted lieutenants and confidants. As he reveals in “Destiny Prevails—My Life With Aristotle, Alexander, Christina Onassis and her daughter, Athina,” author Ioannidis, a decorated Greek resistance fighter during World WarII, was on the spot for the most important events in Aristotle Onassis’ personal and professional lives. Ioannidis witnessed Onassis’ last visit to his dying son; he flew Maria Callas personally on privateflights; and saw the tension between Onassis’ daughter Christina and Jackie O, as the world came to know Jacqueline Kennedy. Mr. Ioannidis rose to great power, trust and influence in the Onassis Group of companies, moving from pilot to director general of Olympic Airways, and later becoming chief executive officer of shipping and commercial operations for the Onassis Group. He wasalso the presidentofall companies owned by Christina Onassis—whose death at the age of 38 shook the world—oneof the executors of her will and member of the Board of Administrators of the estate of her minor daughter, Athina. Revealing and riveting, “Des- tiny Prevails” brings to light details that could only be told by someone who has been intimate with the Onassis family for 57 years, and remainsso today. Toannidis writes from direct memory the tragic scene after Alexander Onassis was fatally injured in an airplane accident on Mylife with Aristotle, Alexander, ristina Onassis andher daughter, Athina uivantl A new bookshedslight on the fas- cinating life of Aristotle Onassis. January 22, 1973. Aristotle Onassis arrived from New York, the next day and wentstraight to the hospital. “Onassis tried to appear strong, but he was crushed inside. He saw doom setting in right before his eyes. He was losing Alexander, who washis pride and joy, even if he never showed it. He was losing his successor and the man who would take over his empire.” He entered Alexander’s room and made the sign of the cross. Alexander wason life support, he was breathing and his heart was functioning. However, due to the serious craniocerebral injuries he had suffered, the doctors consid- ered him to be clinically dead. He could be kept in this state, but it was irreversible. Alexander was going to remain brain dead. The next day there had to be a decision: Should Alexander remain on life support or should he be disconnected, which would result in his death? Aristotle Onassis personally made this decision on the morning of January 24. Ioannidis reports that it was the mostdifficult and painful decision that Onassis ever had to makein hislife. With illustrations including hand-written notes from Jackie and Maria Callas to Aristotle Onassis, “Destiny Prevails” brings the reader inside the life of a man and family lionized by the world, and into a family saga resembling a Greektragedy. The book was published by Livani Publishing Organisation, Athens Greece, and is available in the U.S.A., as a hardcover through Amazon and Barnes & Noble at a price of $25, and as an e-book through Kindle at $12.29. Please contact Joan Avagliano with any questions (jma@dginyc.com).
