Lino Grech, actor, director and writer, died on December 2, aged 83.
Lino Grech was instrumental in the evolution of Maltese theatre and television productions, having penned the very first television series to appear on Xandir Malta in Maltese – F’ Baħar Wieħed in 1976.
The veteran artiste possessed the rare ability of making people laugh and cry simultaneously. Mr Grech’s pieces were considered to be an X-ray of society and Maltese families.
John Azzopardi, internationally renowned pathologist, died on June 25, aged 84.
John Azzopardi was a brilliant pathologist and Professor of Oncology at Hammersmith Hospital, London. His name was associated with breast pathology and his book Problems in Breast Pathology, published in 1979, has long been considered the best in the world on the subject.
The American Journal of Surgical Pathology and the European Journal of Pathology said the international community of pathologists had lost one of its icons.
Joseph Bonello, a leading figure in the financial services industry, died on November 5, aged 69.
Joseph Bonello, chairman and managing director of Financial Planning Services, spent a lifetime working in financial services. His was the first Maltese firm to offer a holistic financial planning approach. As a founder member of the Malta Stock Exchange, his company was one of the seven stock broking firms present on the exchange at the first trading session in 1992.
Helen Muscat, healthcare campaigner, died on October 19, aged 57.
a founding member of the Hospice Movement, the Breast Care Support Group and the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation, healthcare professional Helen Muscat touched the lives of countless cancer patients, journeying with them through their ravaging illness while pushing for better treatment and care. The disease which she had lobbied so fervently against was the one to ultimately claim her life. In December 2012 she was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika for her support and active campaigning to provide breast cancer patients with a better quality of life.
John Mizzi, former news editor of Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta, died on February 5, aged 87.
John Mizzi spent nearly 30 years as news editor of Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta as well as a stringer for The Daily Telegraph. He made a name for himself with Malta At War, a definitive, illustrated six-volume record of the island’s struggle during World War II.
Mgr Anton Gauci, long-serving member of the Gozo Cathedral Chapter died on November 13, aged 88.
Gozitan Mgr Anton Gauci had a long-standing friendship with Dom Mintoff and had claimed that his contacts with the former Labour leader had led to the breakthrough in the Church-Labour dispute of the 1960s. In 1985, he was appointed assistant director of education and, in 1986, Malta’s permanent delegate to Unesco.
Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi, TV personality, died on October 9, aged 40.
Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi died after a brave two-year battle with breast cancer. Relatives and friends described her as an “extraordinary” and “special” woman who exuded positivity until the very end. Apart from fronting a number of TV shows in the past, Nirvana is also remembered for co-founding Teatru Unplugged in 1998. The letter she wrote before her death, giving advice to friends and family, went viral on the social media.
Edwin Borg Costanzi, former Rector of the University of Malta, died on May 14, aged 87.
Edwin Borg Costanzi was Rector of the University of Malta from 1963 - 1980 and from 1988 - 1991. Prof. Borg Costanzi, a mathematician, presided over the massive transformation and expansion of the University when it moved from Valletta to Tal-Qroqq. He revamped the Faculty of Science, improved the School of Medicine and gave an impetus to the Faculty of Arts.
Fr Eric Overend, archpriest of Żejtun, died on April 28, aged 47.
Żejtun archpriest Fr Eric Overend died suddenly just two days after the death of his mother. He had been archpriest of Żejtun for 10 years and is remembered for his dedication to his parishioners. Fr Overend was a member of the Church’s Environment Commission and president of the College of Parish Priests until 2012.
Sharon Sapienza, artistic director and producer of flamenco shows, died on February 13, aged 38.
The death of Sharon Sapienza, a great lover of flamenco, was a blow to the dance community in Malta and Seville, where she lived and worked. Ms Sapienza was responsible for setting up an important festival, Larachi Flamenco, which has been held annually over the past 12 years in Seville, Paris and Malaga.