Carol Jaccarini and Mario Tabone write:
Our dear friend Denis has gone, ‘gone far away into the silent land’ but not into oblivion because he has left an invaluable and living legacy as a man, a friend and a doctor.
As a man, he was a person of principle and character, highly intelligent, with an ordered mind, informed and analytical. He had a talent for friendship; if ‘friendship’ was not yet coined, it would have had to be invented for him. As so many can testify, Denis was a great doctor, combining humanity, psychological insight, sharp eye and up-to-date methodology. He was kind, courteous and deeply dedicated to his call and managed to forge a close rapport with many of his patients which often matured into outright friendship.
He believed sincerely in the rights and independence of doctors and the ineluctable rights of patients – and had the vision to realise that these values were complementary – and bravely stood for them when they were sorely tested.
Together with colleagues, Dr Soler was a stalwart visionary in seeing general practice as a speciality. He was the titanic force behind the evolution of systematic training at the University for doctors specialising in family medicine. He forged links with foreign academic bodies, organising and participating in several scientific meetings, locally and abroad. One must add that he was also a pioneer in realising the crucial role of ICT in health care.
Denis, as so many people know, had an infectiously jovial spirit. He was gregarious and enjoyed life fully. Literally a big man, he was also someone with a big heart; a person of many interests, he wallowed in his inimitable art of conversation. He was witty, with an impish sense of humour and relished pouring out an endless repertoire of jokes to the delight of those around him.
In his later years, although dogged by ill-health, he bravely soldiered on in spite of obstacles and, true to his character, Denis did ‘not go gentle into that good night’.
May the Lord, in his mercy, give him ‘a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last’.
Our deep condolences go to his faithful and dear wife Marie, and his children Ingrid and Fiona and their families.