Fabian Mangion, Senglea writes:
Son of Emmanuel Ellul and Josephine, née Bezzina, Michael was born in Senglea on December 22, 1925, and baptised the following day by Fr Carmel Bezzina Debono at the Senglea Basilica.
He studied at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta, from where he graduated B.Arch. & E. in 1952, and at the University of Rome, from where he obtained a diploma in architectural restoration in 1967. Michael joined government service as an architect with the Public Works Department in 1955, and, until 1965, was in charge of the schools section. In 1967 he set up the antiquities division and served as its head from 1967 to 1985. In October 1972, he was entrusted with the custody and maintenance of a collection of public records. This initiative turned out to be the humble start of the National Archives.
Since the early years as the first head of the institution, to his trips abroad to learn more about the management of archives, to his accountability on the cataloguing of the Secretary of State records, he showed commitment, diligence and great humility. Due to his constant backing to the growth of the National Archives, he become a central figure in the development of Maltese public archives.
Appointed chief architect in 1979, he was responsible for all restoration projects in government historical buildings. These included Verdala Palace in 1975; Vilhena Palace, Mdina; the Museum of Fine Arts; and the Mediterranean Conference Centre from 1978 to 1979.
A highly respected authority and researcher on the Maltese built heritage and for many years a point of reference on the ethics and methodology of the restoration of historic buildings, Michael was appointed adviser to the government on national archives from 1985 to 1987, adviser to the prime minister on conservation from 1987 to 1990 and later an architectural and conservation consultant.
He also served as government representative on the committee for cultural heritage at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg from 1967 to 1993, and was guest lecturer at the universities of Florence in 1987, Lisbon and Coimbra in 1991.
A great friend of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta, Michael was a visiting lecturer in History of Architecture when History of Art classes were first introduced in the late 1980s. He generously shared his art historical knowledge with students who were directed to him for assistance and was frequently appointed as guest examiner for MA theses on an architectural theme or on the art history of 19th century Malta.
He published various scientific studies on architecture and historical buildings in Malta. Among these, one finds Heritage of an Island (1975), Fort St Elmo – A Brief History (1988) and Maltese-English Dictionary of Architecture and Building in Malta (2009). His various articles about architecture were also published in local and foreign periodicals.
A fellow of the Royal Historical Society (London), Michael was member of the Ecclesiastical Board of Antiquities (1969); a member of the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee (1987-1995); and a member of the Archives Advisory Committee (1991).
He was also appointed president of the Friends of the Cathedral Museum in 1992 and vice-chairman to the Heritage Advisory Committee of the Planning Authority in 1993. In 1995 he was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.
Through his death on March 3, a light has gone out in the world of architecture. His loss will be greatly felt. May the merciful and gracious Lord, “who will transfigure the wretched body of ours into the mould of His glorious body” (Phil. 3, 21) appoint him a place among those who are to stand before Him forever.