Who were the Savopouloses? Obituary notes ‘a devoted couple in love’
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Version 0 of 1. A paid obituary published in The Washington Post on Tuesday sheds more light on the lives of the three Savopoulos family members killed this month in their Northwest Washington home. Savvas Savopoulos, 46, Amy Martin Savopoulos, 47, and their son, Philip Savopoulos, 10, and housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, were found dead at the family’s house. Police believe they were held captive overnight and were bound at some point. One person, Daron Dylon Wint, has been arrested in the killings. Savvas Savopoulos was a successful businessman, and he and his wife were regulars in the D.C. social scene. Their obituaries give more insight into who they were as a family and as community members. [Suspect identified after DNA is found on pizza] Here’s what else we know from the death notice published Tuesday: Savvas Savopoulos Savvas Savopoulos started in martial arts at 17 and had long dreamed of owning a traditional Japanese-style martial arts center, both in architecture and spirit of the facility. His dream center recently opened and had expansive luxury offerings, including amenities for live-in students. He was also interested in motor sports, opera and a was member of the Chevy Chase Country Clubs. He donated his time and money to Starlight Children’s Foundation, Children’s National Medical Center, the National Child Research Center and St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He married Amy at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in 1994. “They were a devoted couple in love. This love was represented in their daughters Abigail, and Katerina, and their son Philip,” the notice reads. “He was a world traveler, a prolific photographer, and a skilled powerboat enthusiast. To his family and many friends, Savvas represented loyalty and devotion, integrity, compassion, and courage.” Amy Savopoulos Amy Savopoulos learned to be a “citizen of the world” growing up in a military family and, through this international upbringing, gained “important values that were reflected in her remarkable life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor as well as an engaged community member.” She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics and worked at CohnResnick Accounting for a few years. Known for her “selfless nature,” she was involved in her children’s schools and helped to organize many community fundraisers and school events She enjoyed golf, tennis, boating and especially loved her family’s “notoriously” long walks through Rock Creek Park with their two Chesapeake Bay retrievers. “Amy had the rare ability of spotting four-leaf-clovers even when she was not looking for them,” the notice reads. “Amy was a world traveler who loved gathering shells from beaches, touring monuments, visiting art galleries, and attending performing arts. Amy was extremely charismatic and had a huge heart. To her family and many friends, Amy represented the same loyalty and devotion, integrity, compassion, and courage as Savvas-values and behaviors they instilled in their children.” Philip Savopoulos Ten-year-old Philip, known as “Flip” by his friends, was a fourth-grader at St. Albans School for Boys and was an avid sports fan. He played outfield and third base for his Little League Baseball team and had an encyclopedic knowledge of basketball statistics and players. His favorite athlete was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant. He wanted to be a professional Formula-1 racecar driver and his “true passion was racing and going fast.” Philip was a member on the Praga North America Karting racing team, the first division for competitive racers. He had already competed in Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Phoenix. Philip was proud of his Greek heritage and, with the help of his father, was researching his mother’s ancestry. “Abigail and Katerina doted on their little brother Philip. The three siblings took an active interest in each of the others lives and were always eager for opportunities to spend time together. Watching movies together was a favorite pastime,” the notice reads. “Most recently the three cuddled together to watch a favorite movie, ‘Finding Nemo.’ This was a family that maintained an unusually close bond for each other and for those less fortunate.” Read more: Timeline: The Savopoulos killings |