Noel Radmilli

Austin Sammut writes:

Many of us have lost a great friend. The things that people write about the dearly departed often tend to be standard clichés.

Not in this case. Noel Radmilli was truly larger than life. As my wife Rita observed (and she knew him very well, often in debate), he was not only a lover of life, but a lover of living. Noel was his name; 'Gakk' was his identity. He was everywhere with everyone in everything.

He was a vociferous debater on all subjects under the sun - politics, culture, business, whatever - and was to be found at the centre of every argument or discussion, which he would smell from a mile away.

The best forum for debate would invariably be the lunch or dinner table (more appropriately il-mejda tà l-ikel), where we would spend hours in the company of good food and fine wines. Many times the session would end with Gakki's inimitable rendition of O Sole Mio, to which he would receive a standing ovation, with chants of 'Gakki, Gakki'.

The sad news was broken to me via sms with the words "Il-Gakk mar ikanta mà l-angli", to which I replied "M'għandix dubbju li jieħdu pjacir bih". I could write volumes of reminiscences (Maltembu - which days he always encouraged me to write about, San Pawl, Neptunes, Kartell, Stamperija and so much more).Sandra, Rachel and Paul, I know that words are no solace, but sometimes they help. I hope these do. My sister Cikki and my brother Julian join me in sharing your sadness.

Addio Gakkin. Ci rivediamo