Spyridonakis was born in New Irakleitsa, Kavala in 1931. He studied in the U.S. and in France. He holds a Ph.D. in European History specializing on the modern history. He taught at the University of Sherbrook and Quebec. He has been visiting professor at the Universities of Montreal and Laval. In 1989 he was elected to the History Department of Ionian University at the rank of Professor. His research interests focus on theory and practice of the intersection of historical time and particularly to the general history of the western world today.
When asked what Greece meant for him, he answered without hesitation: «It is home, the birthplace. Wherever one goes, one loves his birthplace even if it is hurting you every time you come back. This is something I can say and repeat, over and over again. Each time I come back, I get heart from what I see…”