Small in stature but a giant in character, former President Guido de Marco will be missed by friends and strangers. Kurt Bugeja Coster talks to those who knew him well and those who knew him from a distance.

Louis Cuschieri, St Joseph Band Club president
I knew him since our childhood because we lived three doors apart. I then worked with him in politics and village affairs and he meant a lot to me and the band club. To me, he was a great person.

John Buttigieg, St Cajetan Band Club president
As a former committee member he was loved and, although he did not remain a member, he continued to follow what was going on. He was always ready to help with whatever we needed. But what impressed me most was his sense of tolerance, of democracy. And he taught us to be tolerant despite our differences.

Anselm Sciberras, Ħamrun Spartans FC former secretary
His dedication to the club was something great. I distinctly remember working at the football stadium, where we were stocktaking when he suddenly summoned me to his office to tell me he had managed to acquire tons of foreign sand for the pitch. He was a driving force and a person you enjoyed talking to, someone you always learnt from.

Charles Agius
His death is a loss to the country. He was a distinguished figure as a politician and as a lawyer and everyone is talking about it. Everyone is praising him. He worked a lot for the country and we are all saddened.

Joe Gerada
His main characteristic was his humanity. I was lucky to have met him a few times but I enjoyed it each and every time because he always showed me emotion. He provided a stimulus right until the end.

John Zammit
During the times of democratic turmoil, when he was personally violently attacked, once even with a manhole cover, he would not retaliate. He did not believe in the saying an eye for an eye and would always try to reason things out.

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