Three years ago, on May 28, we were all deeply saddened by the passing of Maurice de Giorgio, then chairman of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.

For us, the staff at Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, his passing meant the loss of a mentor who guided us through amazing exhibitions, the opening of an award-winning museum, the publication of many lauded books and journals and other tight deadlines with the utmost composure he was known for.

He also distinguished himself in many other circles and was considered the ultimate gentleman by all.

He was appointed chairman of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti in 1992, having also been one of its founding members, and, undoubtedly, his charisma and business acumen were key qualities in securing patronage and funding from private entities and businesses, without which none of the projects he had envisioned would have come to fruition.

Through his vision, and with every completed project, he continued to help reshape the Maltese cultural landscape. His knowledge, counsel and input were also much sought after and he held numerous prestigious appointments that enabled him to continue his crusade of preserving Malta’s artistic heritage.

To all of us at Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, de Giorgio is still fondly in our collective memory.