Saviour Muscat
Joseph Muscat issued a glowing tribute to his father Saviour on
Monday as he announced his death after a two-and-a-half year battle against an
aggressive tumour.
"He was given
only a few months to live when the tumour was discovered, but he battled it and
never gave up. These two-and-a-half years were a blessing although worry did
get to him," Muscat wrote on Facebook.
He said he had
hoped that his father would be able to see the third Lija feast of Our Saviour
since his diagnosis but matters deteriorated in 24 hours.
Muscat rued the
fact that he could not be with his father when he passed away. He is currently
abroad, but he said that his mother as well as his wife Michelle and his
daughters were at his bedside.
He said he had been
close to his father in the 50 years before his diagnosis and especially in the
period since.
"He worked for
his family, and he taught me to work hard."
Education was one
of his most important values, the former prime minister said, recalling a time
when, on leaving school and being offered a good job, his father stopped him
from taking it, insisting that he go to university first.
"In politics,
he was among my most fierce critics, in a good sense, because he always wanted
me to be better. When something passed his critical test, I knew it was
fine."
Lessons from a
father
He said his father
taught him to love not to hate, to do good and not harm.
His father used to
listen to the pleas of many people who went to him for help and he did not
shirk from seeking help on their behalf.
And he never took
no for an answer.
Joseph Muscat
described how his father enjoyed village feasts, knowing practically everybody
involved in their organisation and offering to help and encourage wherever he
could.
He was the most
meticulous person he ever knew and was fearful of fireworks even though
pyrotechnics were the love of his life.
The only incident
he suffered was when, as a young man, he saw a boy playing with a small
unexploded petard. He tried to fling it away from his hand and it blew up. He
lost three fingers.
That boy, as a
grown man later told him that his father had saved his limb, if not his life,
Muscat said.
Muscat thanked a
number of people who assisted his father in his last few years particularly
Nick Refalo and the staff at Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, former Health
Minister Chris Fearne and his successor Jo Etienne Abela, the latter having
never left him as a patient.
He also thanked doctors Silvio Grixti, Deo Debattista, Clifford Caruana, Steve Montfort, Franco Mercieca and Arthur Garard.
Rising Malta sends its condolences to the Muscat family
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