Maurice de Giorgio, the “timeless gentleman” who dedicated his life to making Malta’s cultural heritage accessible to everyone, died yesterday leaving behind a legacy his friends and colleagues are determined to honour.

“I think the best thing we can do for him is to carry forward his legacy. He’s done so much in all these decades to bring cultural heritage to prominence in Malta. He’s showcased it in such a beautiful way. Now we are obliged to carry on in his footsteps,” said Francesca Balzan, the curator at Palazzo Falson, in Mdina that is run by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti of which Mr de Giorgio, 91, was a founding member.

Ms Balzan, who had been working with Mr de Giorgio for about eight years, added: “He was such a gentleman and the most elegant and most cultured of persons. The most outstanding thing about him was that he had such a kind heart.”

He was an “artistic soul” who had a passion for drawing and was very meticulous in his work and taught those around him about the importance of giving attention to detail.

The most outstanding thing about him was that he had such a kind heart

In 1991, Mr de Giorgio was appointed chairman of the Kumitat Patrimonju Malti by the then parliamentary secretary for youth and the arts, Michael Frendo, and, the following year, he helped set up the foundation.

Dr Frendo said his contribution to the foundation was remarkable: “His love for precision and eye for detail can hardly be equalled. He took Patrimonju to great heights accepting nothing less than excellence in all he did and oversaw.”

Mr de Giorgio’s dedication to the preservation and promotion of Malta’s cultural heritage was recognised when he was awarded the national Order of Merit in 1995.

Last year, the foundation published the book A timeless gentleman dedicated to his work.

Giovanni Bonello, who edited the book, said Mr de Giorgio believed in the democratisation of the Maltese cultural heritage and brought culture and cultural artefacts to the people by means of exhibitions, publications, conferences, museums and by always contextualising the relevance of those artefacts with the identity and progress of the people.

Foundation chief executive Michael Lowell described him as “a unique gentleman” who was a huge inspiration, forward-thinking and fair to everyone.

“He was a stickler for detail and never cut corners – our exhibitions were a reflection of that... He was always so impeccably dressed. He was never seen without a tie. In fact, I used to joke and tell him he must sleep in his pyjamas and a tie. He grinned and laughed. He had a fantastic sense of humour...

“He was also one of those people who always tried to see the good in everybody – that’s something I learnt from him. It’s a lesson in life,” he said.

The funeral Mass will be held tomorrow at St Julian’s parish church at 9am.