Aldo Infantino

Mgr Charles Vella writes:

By birth, Aldo Infantino was a Sicilian, well known in Catania, but his heart was “sempre maltese” (forever Maltese). He was proud of his Maltese roots from the Cesareo family. This explains why he had a flat in Sliema and why he came with his wife Virginia and family so often to Malta. He was a truly loyal knight of the Order of St John and a prior for Sicily of the Grand Priory of Malta.

He used to say in these last couple of years when he was suffering that the “aria maltese “ (the Maltese climate) was the best medicine.

I have known Aldo for 50 years when, after I was run over by a car in Catania, he came to my aid. He hardly knew me but this was Aldo. Always ready with his generous heart to help anyone and, above all, the Maltese in Catania.

He was indeed an authentic Christian gentleman of undisputed character worthy of the knighthood of the Order of St John. As such, he promoted the Order in Sicily and whenever he could he always came to Malta for various functions. Even lately, when he was always going in and out of hospital, he insisted to go to Acireale for a function.

Aldo had a mixture of Sicilian and Maltese heritage that made him proud to feel “maltese”. He was a quiet, humble, modest and a true Samaritan to all.

He bore his illness as a courageous knight and he made people who visited him leave him with an air of serenity. His faith gave him the strentgh to accept with fortitude the will of the Heavenly Father. He fought against his illness together with his wife and all the family.

We all miss the smile of Aldo but now he sleeps in the bosom of the Lord.

I think I interpet the feelings of all the Maltese knights and his many friends when I extend my condolences, which I already done when I was with them in Catania, to Donna Virginia, his daughter Alice and Gianni and their young daughter and to Toto and his wife.