Joe Tonna - a loyal friend

When I received a phone call telling me that Joe had passed away, a million emotions and pictures passed through my mind in an instant. I remembered him greeting me at the Ministry of Home Affairs more than 20 years ago on my first day at work, and I remembered the look in his eyes when he congratulated me on being elected MEP.

Joe was much more than a work colleague back then, and much more than my private secretary during these last years. He was a friend and a father figure to me and to all those who worked with him. Never noisy and never nosey, Joe had a way with things and he always voiced his opinion in a calm and rational manner. He was never prejudiced and I never heard him utter a single bad word against anyone.

More than being an ideal civil servant, Joe was dedicated in his work and meticulous in his duties. I will sorely miss him, not only for his efficiency but moreover for his wise judgment and his loyalty to his colleagues, friends and family. The office will never be the same without Joe around, but I am sure that his spirit will live on and that his memory will never fade.