He was born in Pergamon (now Bergama) in Asia Minor on March 10, 1907. Son of a soap and oil trader, he was the oldest of the four children of the family of Panagiotis Savva. His early school years were defined by events of the time, namely the destruction and expulsion of the Greek population in Asia Minor. He studied at the Municipal School of Pergamon, the Elementary School of Mytilene, in the second primary male school in Mytilene, in the historic Kydoniai Gymnasium (school of the great centers of Asia Minor), in the Demi-gymnasium of Pergamon and Athens High School. He was an outstanding student throughout the course of his schooling. At the age of 15, his whole family faced tragic death because of the war (1922). After pausing his studies for two years, he ended High School with honors in Athens (1927).