Andrew Spyrou

Dr. Andrew G. Spyrou, 95, of Greenwich, Connecticut and Skiathos, Greece, passed away October 12th surrounded by family. He was born on the island of Syros, in Greece, in a family of seafarers. In 1939, his outstanding academic achievements at the Maritime College in Greece earned him a Greek Government-three-year-scholarship at The Royal Technical College in Glasgow, Scotland – now The University of Strathclyde.

He was a Naval Architect and Maritime Engineer, and a founding member of the Institution of Nuclear Engineers in London.

In 1944, Dr. Spyrou joined Lloyd’s Register of Shipping as a Field Ship Surveyor in the Clyde District of Scotland.

In 1951, Dr. Spyrou joined the Aristotle S. Onassis Organization as Technical Representative, serving in Europe, the United States and the Far East, and was, for twenty-two years (1960-1982), the Technical Director of the Onassis Group of Companies, in Europe and the USA. In this role he was responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the world’s largest privately owned fleet of tankers and bulk carriers with a tonnage in excess of six million tons deadweight, including the design for the one million ton oil tanker. The ships were built in Europe, the United States and Japan. In 1959, Dr. Spyrou was responsible for the design of the first tanker in excess of 100,000 DWT (later named s/s Manhattan), built at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts.

He was involved in the design and construction of the Onassis yacht “CHRISTINA”, as well as the yacht “DELLA GRAZIA”, on which Princess Diana of Wales sailed.

Dr. Spyrou retired from active duty with the A. S. Onassis Organization in 1982, and fully devoted his efforts to the research and presentation of his first book, entitled Energy and Ships, which was published in 1988 by Lloyd’s of London Press. He authored a second book, published in the USA in 2006, entitled From T-2 to Supertanker, and a third book in 2010, entitled Global Climate Change and the Shipping Industry.

Dr. Spyrou was predeceased by his wife, Anne (Nan) Rankin Spyrou, and his son, George Andrew Rankin Spyrou. He is survived by his son, Alexander Spyrou, and his five grandchildren, Peter, Andrew, Isabella, John and Nicholas.

He will be sorely missed for his indomitable spirit and love of life.

A funeral service will be held at 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 954 Lake Avenue, Greenwich, CT. To leave an online condolence please visit www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com