Costas Carras (1938-2022), passed away just a few days after the 50th anniversary of Elliniki Etaireia - Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, a leading Greek NGO which he founded with his wife Lydia in 1972. It was a reaction to the violent destruction brought upon the environmental and cultural landscape of Greece by the populist economic policies of the military dictatorship (1967-1974) that encouraged easy business loans and mindless, unplanned construction. Born in London to an old shipping family from Chios, and the son of Captain Yannis Carras (who launched Halkidiki as a destination by creating the Porto Carras Grand Resort) he studied History and Philosophy at Trinity College Oxford and Economics at Harvard and then also worked in Shipping. Ever active in public affairs, he held many and diverse roles including Vice President of Europa Nostra, Coordinator of the Greek Chapter of the Greek Turkish Forum and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. His early successes with Elliniki Etaireia included the cancellation of a planned industrial zone in the southern Attica, the preservation of Plaka, Athens' old Town, the initiation of conservation in Prespa lakes and the staunchly pro-conservation wording of Article 24 of the Constitution of Greece. Costas Carras personally played an instrumental role in saving important monuments in Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey and hopefully his legacy will inspire the coming generations of the three countries in safeguarding the regions rich heritage and engaging in peaceful dialogue.