Salvino Busuttil writes:

Mathematician par excellence and manager by calling, Edwin Borg Costanzi took over the reins of the University of Malta, then still under its royal patronage, practically at the time of Malta’s Independence.

From an athenaeum largely peopled by part-time academics giving tuition to a few hundred students, EBC (as we all knew him) transformed, in a few years, the University into one modelled on that British system which he deeply privileged.

Moving the campus from Valletta to Tal-Qroqq, he changed radically the modus operandi of the University in both its teaching and research functions. His close connections with British academic circles helped our University to attract, with topped-up salaries (envied, I must say, by us, the Maltese staff) some fairly highly qualified lecturers.

Edwin’s enthusiasm (and he worked 16-hour days) revamped the Faculty of Science, boosted the School of Medicine and infused the Faculty of Arts (whose dean I was for a number of years) with a new élan, fulfilling my young yearning for a Department of Economics, to which later was added a Department of Applied Economics.

Rigorous as he always was, he convinced the Senate to do away with the system of almost infinite referrals, giving exams due value. His door was always open and he cherished informed argumentation, even though he would not easily accept defeat.

Edwin’s relations with students were warm, and the University House was one of his proud achievements, as was the printing press and, of course, the laboratories.

While rebelling at outside political intrusion, he would listen with sympathy to any student or lecturer who had a particular domestic problem. His somewhat abrasive bearing apart, he had a heart of gold.

Not one to seek honours or recognition, the rector led a simple life, his main passions being cards and fishing. He could enthral visitors with his knowledge of bridge, and mesmerise others with his lampuki tales.

I am sure that he is having fun with the apostolic fishermen up there.