Joe Merciecas's untimely and sudden death was an irreparable loss. The torrent of appreciation following his demise paid tribute to his qualities as a perfect gentleman, an outstanding journalist and a highly dedicated teacher.

We had the privilege of knowing Joe closely for a very long time. He was a rare friend. A man who lived up to the highest ideals of a Jesuit education of a different era. He was acutely sensitive to what was wrong with the world and dedicated his life to ferreting out the truth. His principles were inflexible. His Faith and fine-tuned conscience made him acutely aware of his failings which he never hesitated to acknowledge, exaggerate and feel regret for... a very rare quality in today's world that twists the timeless principles to justify anything and everything.

He worked tirelessly to fight for a better world against the evils that pollute our political and social environment. But Joe was much more than a journalist and a teacher. He gave a huge contribution behind the scenes, unhonoured, unsung and unremunerated.

Joe suffered for his ideals and carried an unwritten part of our history to the grave, facts that will unfortunately remain unrecorded. However, providence gave him the opportunity to teach journalism, and much more, at our university. In his typical humble and acutely self-critical manner he always underestimated his talents and pushed himself to the limit, well beyond the call of duty.

May he serve as a role model for the crucial vocation of journalism that today is so abused worldwide by the incestuous relationship between governments and big business. Joe will live forever in our hearts. Farewell "Old Boy".