When someone close to you passes away it is hard to reconcile yourself with the grief that befalls you. The death of Richard Stagno Navarra brought me moments of deep sorrow and left me heartbroken.
Having known Richard, affectionately known to me as "Dickie", since 1961 when as an 18-year-old he qualified as a football referee, his untimely death filled me with profound sorrow.
Richard was a gentleman who was always there to help all those in need. He was always ready and willing to proffer advice especially to referees. I am not going to mention what jobs Richard held during his lifetime but I am just mentioning his involvement in football and particularly in the refereeing sector.
Richard was a talented referee who progressed through the ranks and was appointed as a FIFA International Referee in July 1969. He had a chequered career as a referee and when the time came for him to decide to put aside his referee's uniform, he took up various administrative positions with the MFA and MFRA. He was Honorary Secretary of the MFRA for a number of years before joining the MFA as a member of the Referees' Board and as a Match Inspector, positions he held up to his untimely death.
As a mentor, he advised various referees and devoted most of his spare time to coach them on the finer art of refereeing. Being also a prolific master of English, having also spent several years as a teacher of English at St Edward's College, Richard helped referees to improve their written and spoken English.
Away from the refereeing sector, Richard and I became good friends. When I became a widower, Richard often invited me to his home where his dearest mother prepared either lunch or supper. In recent years we had made it a point to go out for a meal practically once or twice a month. Many a time we ended up at Mġarr in his favourite restaurant for rabbit.
The last time I spoke to my friend Dickie was on the eve of his death. We had agreed to go out for lunch the following Tuesday (little did we know it would be his funeral day).
Just a few days before during one of our visits to Mġarr, he confided to me that he missed his mother, who had passed away a few months before, immensely. He told me that it was hard to live alone and that he was always expecting his mother to be there when he returned home. When his mother was still alive, whatever the occasion, Richard wanted to be home early, as he did not like to leave his mother waiting for him. Richard always thought of others and was least worried about himself.
Our Almighty Father, in whom he believed and adored, called him to his side when he was in the environment he so much loved. Ironically Richard fell ill just after the conclusion of the MFRA Annual General Meeting. Richard will be greatly missed by the refereeing community, as he was ever ready to help. The Maltese referees have lost a mentor and friend.
Unashamedly I confess that I did not stop crying when I heard of his demise. I have lost a sincere friend. Sincere condolences to his brothers and his sister and all his relatives.
Until we meet again in the arms of Our Lord, I am sure that Richard will be praying for us from high above.