Honorary consul with a heart of gold

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Michele Di Gianni, Malta’s honorary consul-general in Naples.

Michele was an intellectual giant, particularly when it came to legal treatises and briefs- William Spiteri, Swieqi

I had come in contact with Michele back in 1968, when as a young First Secretary at the Embassy of Malta in Rome I was directed to cover a high-calibre Nato congress in Naples, which was being attended by two young Maltese politicians – Guido de Marco and Mario Felice.

However, my mission in Naples was really to assess two or three persons who had shown an interest in being appointed honorary consul of Malta. One of the three was Michele. The minute we met, we took a liking to each other and forged a lasting friendship. He was jovial, indeed, boisterous, full of energy, outgoing, unabashed – and very talkative.

I sensed that he was promising to do too much for Malta, and that he was typically trying to impress. He introduced me to his late wife Teresa and his children, Antonietta and Fabrizio – and his sisters, in-laws, friends and all.

I decided to recommend Michele, who was soon after appointed honorary consul.

As he had promised me, he celebrated his appointment with a lavish reception at the Excelsior Hotel in Via Caracciolo. The name of Malta was on everyone’s lips that evening.

He did for Malta more than was expected of him; he delivered, indeed. He had promised me he would publish a biannual publication, which he called Maltanapoli, which he continued to produce uninterruptedly for 40 years, right up to his death.

I had an excellent relationship with him and his family.

His relationship with the late Guido de Marco (which I was instrumental in bringing about) nourished and matured over the years. It was extended to include the wives and families. Indeed, the two had many things in common – a buoyant boisterous character, a joie de vivre, a great admiration for Italy and all things Italian, a love for the legal profession, an insatiable thirst for culture and, above all their amiability.

They became like veritable brothers, especially when they met at Di Gianni’s characteristic house in Capri.

Michele was an intellectual giant, particularly, when it came to legal treatises and briefs, and to civil and international law. In 1977 he set up the Association of Honaray Consuls in Italy, of which he was general secretary; he was also an active member of Rotary International. His energy knew no bounds.

However, I would like to remember dearest Michele as a jovial, loud, friendly person, with a heart of gold, a zest for life, with a tremendous energy, and with unbounded enthusiasm in all he undertook, a man, who loved Malta and the Maltese, and who was ever ready to help.