“I’ve called him twice today, no answer,” Poulos said. “It’s hard to accept that someone can be gone, truly gone, where to the point where you can never speak to them again.”
Poulos said he knew the pair well because he and Alex had been business partners for several years.
Orlando couple among Turkey, Syria earthquake victims Veronika Ilgin, right, and Alex Ilgin, left (Vasilios Poulos /Vasilios Poulos)
“Alex was unbelievably charitable,” he said. “He would give when he had nothing, whether it’s time, money, anything.”
And now, Poulos is doing the same in Alex’s honor.
“I have been told by boots on the ground that they need supplies badly,” he said. “So, of course, I want to help Alex and Veronika’s family because they’ve lost everything, but also give resources directly to the people who need it.”
Poulos will host a tribute for Alex and Veronika Monday at 8 p.m. at Cafe 34 Istanbul. A portion of the proceeds will go to their GoFundMe page.
Click here to help the couple’s surviving family members and click here to help people in Turkey who need supplies.
See a map of the location below:
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue dog smells the debris of a ruined building while search and rescue operations continue on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A framed portrait remains on a wall of a collapsed building on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Fireman Erhan Sarac and other rescue team members celebrate each other just after a successful evacuation on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of the victim of the earthquake to the mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue volunteer walks around collapsed buildings on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Policemen check a local man to prevent potential looting in front of ruined Elbistan Tax Office building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Turkish and Mongolian rescue workers celebrate to survival of Hulya Kabakulak, 48-year-old survivor, at the site of a collapsed building after 90 hours on from the earthquake on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of a victim of the earthquake at mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake An injured man is helped by a resident to slide out of the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents walk along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents carry an injured child from the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighboring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A resident walks along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A resident stands in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents stand in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
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