Miki 'Baba' Cardovillis Remembrance.pdf -

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IN LOVING MEMORY MICHAEL CHRISTIE "MIKI" CARDOVILLIS JULY 17, 1951 - JUNE 17, 2021 FUNERAL SERVICE CONSOLATA SHRINE, WESTLANDS, NAIROBI REQUIM MASS PROGRAM ENTRANCE PROCESSION GABA MASS FIRST READING Gra ce Wood Lamentations 3: 17-26 RESPONSORIAL PSALM SECOND READING Philippians 3: 20-21 Sean Sa ngu inet t i GOSPEL ACCLAMATION GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1-12a Fr. M arino Ge m m a PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Sabrina Wood REQUIM MASS OFFERTORY COMMUNION EULOGY read by M ike L ucas TRIBUTES: SPECIAL SONG K en and K a ren L ucas GRANDCHILDREN M elissa, Christ ie a nd Ale x CHILDREN Charles, Alexandra, John SPOUSE Sheila Cardovillis BROTHERS & SISTERS Helen Cardovillis FRIENDS OF MIKI Richard Omwela KENYA HARLEQUINS Felix Ochieng VOTE OF THANKS George Car dov illis ANNOUNCEMENTS Sea n Cardov illis DEPARTURE FOR BURIAL AT LANGATA CEMETRY EULOGY EARLY YEARS Michael Christie Cardovillis, fondly known as Miki or Baba, was born on July 17, 1951, in Maralal, Samburu County to the late John Christos Cardovillis MBE and the late Njeri Karobia Cardovillis. He was a loving brother to: the late Margaret Kanure, the late Tony Gachinga, Catherine Cardovillis, the late Mary Young, Lucy Cardovillis, George Cardovillis, Anna Cardovillis, Peter Cardovillis, David Cardovillis and Helen Cardovillis. Miki was a son-in-law to the late Catherine Kritikos and the late Michael Kritikos. His brother George recalls Miki was a bright little boy. His family fondly called him 'Mikitaki', meaning 'little Miki' in Greek. Miki attended The White Sisters School (later known as Maryhill School), where he was baptized and received his first holy communion and confirmation. He then attended St Theresa's Secondary School in Nairobi before joining Extelcoms College in 1969. He was a teleprinter technician involved in the planning, wiring and commissioning of a new teleprinter overhaul workshop and had a hand in the set up at Longonot Earth Satellite Station. In 1974, after a brief time at Kenya Polytechnic, he returned to Extelcoms College as a Technical Instructor at the Kabete Complex. In the early 70’s, Miki lived with his good friend Vincent Wood in Eastleigh, before they both moved to Westlands to live with Babu Wood, who was very fond of Miki. Vincent Wood remembers Miki as a funny guy and a good man. The two regarded each other as true brothers and it was through Vincent that Miki was introduced to his future wife. Miki met Sheila Kritikos in 1973. The two married on June 9, 1979, at the Registrar’s Office at Sheria House in Nairobi. On January 26, 1980, a day before Sheila’s birthday, their marriage was blessed at Holy Family Cathedral. Miki and Sheila had 3 children: Charles, Alexandra and John. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS From early on, Miki’s heart and soul was in the music industry. In 1976, he worked with EMI International and Sapra Limited as an international repertoire and sales manager, but he also got involved in sound engineering, music production and record manufacturing. Miki had a company, Kopa Kabana Limited, under which he formed a local record label, Black Blood, along with his friend George Fombe. He went on to produce music with several respected artists such as Taso Stephano, The Cavaliers, Fadhili Williams and Ayub Ogada to name a few. In 1976, Miki was the first local producer to cut an LP album in stereo: the famous, Dunia Ina Mambo, by The Might Cavaliers. He was also a pioneer DJ in Kenya and a fashion model known for his great style and his iconic afro. In 1978, he returned to his family's farm in Rumuruti where he engaged in commercial farming. From 1980 to 1984 he took a job with Saudiya Livestock Agency Limited, where he was the general manager for a joint venture with companies out of Hong Kong and Australia. In this role he managed all levels of a major enterprise, successfully exporting livestock and agriculture produce to the Middle East, Mauritius and other countries in East and Central Africa. EULOGY CONTINUED... From 1985 to 1988 he was the general manager of a chain of local companies involved in international and local trading. From 1989 to 1992 he was a liaison/official for AEG Airport Systems (part of the Daimler Benz Group) for their airport investment projects at JKIA. From 1992 to 1996, he was a trading and investments consultant for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. All the while he was also a freelance professional speaker, master of ceremonies and broadcaster, as well as a sought-after voice-over artist. He played a key role in some of Kenya’s and Africa’s most popular or large brand TV and radio commercials. In 1996, he joined The Capital Group as the operations manager and was instrumental in the launch of Capital FM 98.4 in Nairobi. He mentored and worked with some of Kenya's finest media presenters such as Zain Verjee and his nephew, Sean Cardovillis. He was an avid supporter of local talent and organized for many of today's leading DJs to secure radio airtime at Capital FM to reach and grow their fanbase. After retiring from live radio and production, Miki took on outdoor advertising as the managing director of One Stop Media Limited, part of the Capital Group of companies. He took over an ailing and debt- ridden outdoor advertising company and “re-engineered it” into a profitable, major player in the outdoor advertising arena in Kenya. When that company sold, Miki worked with another advertising and printing firm, Monier 2000 Limited as a consulting marketing and sales manager. In between these years and up to his untimely demise, Miki was also a partner with Kinetic Energy Corporation, where he led the company on various projects and investments which brought all his other passions together - agriculture, engineering and renewable energy. RECENT YEARS Miki was an avid sportsman. When his children excelled in sports, he was their greatest fan. Some of his best days were spent with his wife, sons, grandchildren, nephews and friends watching football and rugby games, sharing precious time and memories together. He adored his four grandchildren: Melissa, Jonah, Christie and Alexander and enjoyed teaching and challenging them to discover new and complex things. He was a protective, loving and dependable uncle, brother-in-law and cousin to many living in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Greece, the UK and USA. In his last years, Miki proudly yet humbly learned that his music productions had gone global. Major international, award-winning recording artists have sampled his work to create their own music. Today, some of his music has been heard by millions of people around the world. Miki was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in early 2020, just as COVID-19 was becoming a world- changing occurrence. Despite the odds and other pre-existing medical conditions, Miki bravely and astoundingly fought the illness. Even as he faced death, he managed to keep his family, doctors and nurses laughing. He was hospitalized for over one month until the early afternoon of June 17, 2021, when other detrimental health complications eventually tired him and he chose to take his rest. CHERISHED MEMORIES LOVING HUSBAND, BABA, GRANDPAPA... WE LOVE YOU FOREVER CHERISHED MEMORIES DEDICATED BROTHER, UNCLE, COUSIN AND FRIEND, WE WILL MISS YOU CHERISHED MEMORIES MENTOR, COLLEAGUE, BOSS, LEGEND, THANK YOU FOR NEVER LETTING US WALK ALONE HYMNS How Great Thou Art O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hand hath made; Master The Tempest Is Raging I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed: Master, the tempest is raging! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, The billows are tossing high! How great Thou art! How great Thou art! The sky is o’er shadowed with blackness. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, No shelter or help is nigh. How great Thou art! How great Thou art! Carest thou not that we perish? When through the woods and forest glades I wander How canst thou lie asleep And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, When each moment so madly is threat’ning And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze: A grave in the angry deep? And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, The winds and the waves shall obey thy will: Sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in: Peace, be still. That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea He bled and died to take away my sin: Or demons or men or whatever it be, When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation No waters can swallow the ship where lies And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart! The Master of ocean and earth and skies. Then shall I bow in humble adoration, They all shall sweetly obey thy will: And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art! Peace, be still; peace, be still. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace, be still. What Returns To Yahweh Can I Make Master, with anguish of spirit What returns to Yahweh can I make I bow in my grief today. What returns to Yahweh can I make The depths of my sad heart are troubled. For blessings of every kind from Him that I have Oh, waken and save, I pray! received. Torrents of sin and of anguish What returns to Yahweh Sweep o’er my sinking soul, (What returns can I make) x2 And I perish! I perish! dear Master. What returns to Yahweh? Oh, hasten and take control! For blessings of every kind from Him that I have Master, the terror is over. received. The elements sweetly rest. Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored, He created me the Lord And heaven’s within my breast. And He accepted me as His own Linger, O blessed Redeemer! For blessings of every kind from Him that I have received. Leave me alone no more, And with joy I shall make the blest harbor He purifies and strengthens me And rest on the blissful shore. By the Spirit, the Spirit of Power For blessings of every kind from Him that I have received HYMNS My Jesus I Love Thee My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine For Thee all the follies of sin I resign My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now I love Thee because Thou has first loved me It Is Well With My Soul And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow When peace like a river, attendeth my way, If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now When sorrows like sea billows roll I'll love Thee in life and I will love Thee in death Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath It is well, it is well, with my soul And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow It is well! With my soul! It is well! it is well! with my If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now soul In mansions of glory and endless delight Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright Let this blest assurance control, I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, If ever I loved Thee my Jesus ‘tis now. And hath shed His own blood for my soul My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought My sin, not in part but the whole, God Be With You 'Til Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, We Meet Again Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, God be with you till we meet again. No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life By his counsel’s guide, uphold you, Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. With his sheep securely fold you: God be with you till we meet again. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, ‘Til we meet! ‘til we meet! ‘Til we meet at Jesus feet; The sky, not the grave, is our goal; ‘Til we meet! ‘til we meet! God be with you Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! ‘til we meet again! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! God be with you till we meet again; And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, Neath his wings protecting hide you, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; Daily manna still provide you: The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, God be with you till we meet again. Even so, it is well with my soul. God be with you till we meet again; When life’s perils thick confound you, Put his arm unfailing round you: God be with you till we meet again. God be with you till we meet again. Keep love’s banner floating o’er you, Smite death’s threatening wave before you: God be with you till we meet again. APPRECIATION We wish to express our sincere and utmost appreciation to all our family, friends and well- wishers who have journeyed with us through this most difficult time of our lives. Our beloved Miki would have been proud and grateful for the outpouring of support for his family. We would like to thank the church for guiding us in faith throughout our lives and for accepting our request to have Baba's funeral presided over by Fr. Marino at Consolata. Thank you to Lee Funeral Home for the assistance at this tough time. We especially thank the doctors, nurses and caregivers who cared for Baba throughout his battle. We thank the entire Cardovillis family, the Lucas, Wood and Sanguinetti families and our special friends, too many to name, whom we regard as family, for the unwavering support during the funeral and always. We pray God's blessings on each of you and your families. May Miki's legacy shine through each one of us who loved him. One Love. Sheila, Charles, Alexandra and John. REST IN POWER BABA