Chiara Frendo writes:

A song of praise well deserved for Salvino Sullivan, a man who lived to tell the tale, a man of valour, a man who elegantly played his part in his long and prosperous life. This is my tribute to a special person whom I met when he was already nearing a century, equally sharing a century’s worth of experiences and knowledge.

His age, although admirable, was not something he would want sympathy for. Quite the opposite; with no hint of hesitation he would get down on one knee and sing Neapolitan songs to the love of his life, Maria. Always with a gentle and subtle smile, he would look across to her and give her a look so adoringly and complete it would have been tarnished with words.

A mind that he kept active as he sat on his armchair with his newspaper, crosswords and magnifying glass close by, he would eagerly and passionately, with a hint of fortitude in his voice, speak of his strong opinion on the project of the ‘tejatru mwaqqa’’ (opera house ruins).

Clearly a romantic, with an element of nostalgia, he would ever so effortlessly enjoy any debate but then equally enjoyed a tongue-in-cheek joke that would set you off giggling along with him.

Always smart, impeccably dressed to a pool-side lunch, he outshone us all with his wit as he recited Latin poetry to my awestruck father. A man ready to enjoy an event, particularly when it involved family or the Jesuit fathers, he lived life to the full with a cheerful disposition. He celebrated together with loved ones and close friends his 100th birthday party, leaving me with one of my best memories of him greeting everyone with zest, together with another memory of my late grandmother, Lucia Portelli Demajo, who accompanied me on that special event.

Farewell Salvino, let us aspire to love and live as you did and may you rest proud, as I am to have had the privilege of knowing you.