Joe Zammit Mangion

Joe Zammit Ciantar, Sta Luċija writes:

I first met Joseph Zammit Mangion at St Michael’s Training College, run by the De La Salle Brothers, at Ta’ Giorni, in October 1962.

I was one of the 60 new entrants for the two-year teachers training course. He used to lecture on the Maltese language. I began to meet him more often when I chose Maltese as a special subject.

Our meetings became more frequent when, out of the titles he gave us to write a long essay, I chose to a study of one of the 18th century manuscripts by Maltese panegyric Rev. Dr Ignazio Saverio Mifsud.

At that time, Mr Zammit Mangion was reading for a BA (Hons) and, during his lectures, he would often divulge what he was working on.

He was extremely enthusiastic in passing on his knowledge of Maltese. He knew I loved Maltese and he followed my transcription of Mifsud’s manuscript and guided me in the process.

Through his diligent care and interest he made me fall in love with research, especially Mifsud whose Maltese sermons I transcribed, edited, and annotated between 1999 and 2005, and eventually published in 2008 inIl-Priedki bil-Malti ta’ Ignazio Saverio Mifsud.

He was overjoyed when I presented him with a copy of the book, the proofs of which he had previously offered to read when he had already suffered a stroke which confined him indoors with his loving, adorable, and caring wife Maria Concetta, in their home in St Mary Street, Sliema.

In his teaching career Joe was a very pragmatic and brilliant teacher. His experience in teaching and studies on education in Malta – he graduated M. Phil. at the University of London – helped him be appointed deputy director of Education in 1988.

He chaired the 1990 International Literacy Year Committee which worked on a programme of activities to mark that year.

His proposal to set up a monument to commemorate 19th century educationalist Can. Paolo Pullicino in the precincts of Belt-is-Sebħ education buildings in Floriana, was approved, and he was happy to see Education Minister Ugo Mifsud Bonnici unveil it on December 27, 1990.

In a message read on that occasion, Federico Mayor, director general of Unesco, expressed his “appreciation and satisfaction”, regarding the originality and wide range of the committee’s activities.

Joe’s dream of publishing his research on the history of education in Malta became a reality when Education in Malta was printed in 1992.

I recall the day when he was almost hurt, and I had to add the words ‘A handbook’ to my booklet with the same title.

Our commitment as council members of the Akkademja tal-Malti, my studies on Saverio Mifsud, and my duties with Dr Mifsud Bonnici between 1989 and 1994, consolidated a sincere friendship and reciprocal respect between us.

When he was still at home in Sliema I used to visit him often and we would spend time talking about his involvement in translating some English novels into Maltese and my ongoing research on the Maltese language and history.

Just a few days ago – on August 14 – I had even talked about the possibility of having his translations published. I was awaiting the opportunity to pay him a visit at St Vincent de Paul residence – where he has been staying, together with his wife, since another stroke left him less mobile – and give him the happy news that Book Distributors Ltd were willing to publish his translations. But I waited too long.

On August 20, with a sad voice on the phone, Maria Concetta told me “Joe left us. He died suddenly yesterday.”

He was 82 last March.

Joe was a very respectable person. He was a hard-working man, always looking at the positive side of life. He worked assiduously and diligently in the group translating European documents into Maltese.

He would go beyond limits to help anyone who asked for his help. He was trusted by one and all. He was a great friend. He was devoted to both family and career.

He was a convinced practising Catholic with sound Christian values. He used to talk lovingly and dearly of both his wife and children Louis, Mariella, Fr Michael, SJ, Sr Josette, IBVM, and David.

To you all and your families, my deepest sympathy. To Joe… may you rest in peace and may the Lord grant you the Eternal Life you sincerely merit.