DR Mario Tabone a Celebration of His Life

DR MARIO TABONE A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE

DR MARIO TABONE A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE

DR MARIO TABONE

A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE

Commemorative publication launched on the official unveiling of the bronze bust at Heritage Malta Head Office, Bighi, Kalkara.

Biography: Fiona Vella Design: Cherise Micallef Photo editing: Kimberly Azzopardi Technical support: Margaret Abdilla Cunningham, George Agius, Pierre Balzia, Pierre Bonello, Kenneth Gambin Acknowledgments: Various photos illustrated in the biography are credited to Jean Paul Tabone, Mark Tabone and Simone Stilon Tabone Printing: Poultons Ltd ISBN: 978-9918-619-54-2 Produced by © 2023 Heritage Malta Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher

2

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 5 Dr Mario Tabone - A short biography 6 Heritage Malta - Main achievements during Dr Mario Tabone’s tenure Testimonials

Ivan Barbara Prof. Anthony Bonanno Pierre Bonello John Joseph Borg Antoinette Caruana Dr Martina Caruana Pierre Cassar Chev. Ray Cassar Kenneth Gambin Dr Reuben Grima Emmanuel Magro Conti Joseph Mizzi Nicoline Sagona Pierre Sammut Joseph Schirò Martin Spiteri Sharon Sultana Prof. Alfred J. Vella Godwin Vella Cecilia Xuereb Noel Zammit

3

14 18 18 18 19 20 21 23 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 30 31 32 33 34

3

FOREWORD An exceptional ophthalmologist in his profession, Dr Mario Tabone contributed greatly to the medical field, both locally and internationally. Apart from his contribution to his profession, Dr Tabone’s magnanimity did not stop here. As an erudite and a widely read person, he was involved in the founding of various associations and societies, and had an extensive range of interests, including a passion for Malta’s cultural heritage. This saw him at the helm of the newly set-up national agency, Heritage Malta. Unsurprisingly, he excelled as one of its first chairmen (2003-2008).

“Heritage belongs to everyone … It’s not there for professors and experts, it belongs to all of us.” True to his word, Dr Tabone left no stone unturned to create an awareness among the general public, instilling a sense of pride serving as an incentive to learn more about our rich history. His enthusiasm was contagious, and his drive and charisma assembled the agency’s employees behind him. Under his tenure, Heritage Malta introduced and organised a large selection of educational programmes - especially targeting the younger audiences - publications, projects, and events, raising standards within Heritage Malta sites to international level. A wide range of exhibitions, both locally and abroad, were executed to a high degree of professionalism. His energy knew no bounds, and in 2007, Heritage Malta held two of its mammoth exhibitions to date, that of the renowned Chinese Terracotta Soldiers and Caravaggio. Organising one of them was no mean feat, let alone two backto-back, and he always credited his excellent staff for the success.

This brings to my memory when we were waiting at the doorstep of the Museum of Archaeology, in the dead of night, to assist the arrival of the Caravaggio paintings. Some were too large to go through the museum’s stairwell, so they had to be loaded and brought in through the windows of the first level.

Another instance was when the decision was taken to collect all the decorative cannon, dating to the Knights’ period, to be brought to the Palace Armoury for preservation. Dispersed all around the island in prominent locations such as churches or official buildings, almost everyone objected to this move.

Yet in one single operation, with the cooperation of the Malta Armed Forces, all the cannon were amassed during the same night and transferred to the Palace. A blocked door at Archbishop Street had to be dismantled for the blessed cannon to be brought in. And Dr Mario Tabone was there, all through the night until the early morning light, leading by example and lending a helping hand like everyone, wholly participating in this Heritage Malta adventure which we still recount to this day.

Dr Mario Tabone’s sudden passing at the age of 83 on 20 August 2022 left a great loss to all who knew him, a true gentleman respected by all, as you will find out in reading these testimonials.

Mario Cutajar Chairman Heritage Malta 5

5

DR MARIO TABONE A short biography

Born in Victoria, Gozo, on 24 November 1938 to Joseph and Mary Tabone, Mario was the youngest of three boys, with Joe being the eldest followed by Colin.

Education Starting his education at the Government Primary School in Vajrinġa Street, Victoria, at around the age of 10, his family moved to Malta for better opportunities on the mainland. Mario’s father followed his education closely and soon realised his son’s great potential. Joseph himself as a youth had started his studies as a doctor, but sadly his father’s death disrupted his goals and he had to abandon his studies to take care of the family, since he was the eldest. Therefore, when Mario commenced his studies at St Aloysius College in Birkirkara, his father encouraged him to take up medicine. Mario did choose sciences, but at one point, he became captivated with philosophy and was considering pursuing this subject instead. Already an avid reader by that time, he had a love for wisdom, and philosophy seemed to be the perfect fit for him. Yet, his father was not going to give up that easily. Trusting in Padre Pio’s pious insight, he wrote asking for his advice. The saintly Capuchin friar’s reply was that Mario could keep on following philosophy as a hobby but should focus his career on medicine. Somehow,

6

this managed to convince the youth to carry on his studies as a doctor. In 1965, he graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Malta in Valletta.

Family Mario also met his wife Josephine at the University of Malta where she was studying pharmacy.

She was two years older than him, so they were married right after he graduated, and together, they moved to the United Kingdom where he specialised in Ophthalmology at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Mario was particularly interested in the applications of laser technology.

Meanwhile, he continued working as an ophthalmologist in various locations in the UK. In fact, his eldest son Jean Paul was born in London, followed by Mark who was born in Brighton, and Simone in Bournemouth.

Private Practice Eventually, Mario returned to Malta with his family and decided to open his private practice. His father thought that it was risky. Little did Joseph know that within a few years, his son would have a waiting list of at least six months. Besides being highly skilful, Mario had a love for people and his patients were charmed by him. Busy as he was, he would dedicate his time to talk with his patients about family, job or interests. He would sit with them to put them at ease and explain to them professionally

7

and accurately, so that they could comprehend their situation. He strove to save his patients from many types of complications. Many people were full of gratitude and indebted to him for saving their eyesight. Always humble and caring, Mario kept taking care of his patients for many years. Not even the scare of the Covid-19 pandemic succeeded to keep him away for long from his patients who continued to seek his exceptional service.

Political Activist Mario Tabone was an activist within the Nationalist Party during the fight for the Independence of Malta. Later on, in the 1990s, he contested the national elections two times as a candidate for Sliema with the Nationalist Party but he was not elected. Between 1992 and 1996, Mario served as president of AŻAD (Academy for the Development of a Democratic Environment) which was established to serve as a centre for political studies. In the early 1990s, Mario was appointed Chairman of the Malta University Services (MUS) which was established on account of the fact that more and more services were being set up on the campus of the University of Malta. He was also involved in the Malta Association of Ophthalmologists and in the set up of the Malta Chamber of Scientists.

Chairman of Heritage Malta Perhaps, the most important public role he played was as Chairman of Heritage Malta between 2003 and 2008, the very first years of this national agency. With cultural heritage genuinely at heart,

8

in these five years Mario worked effortlessly to enhance public awareness about the islands’ cultural riches. This was not an easy task, since together with his staff he had to confront an old, widespread indifference towards our heritage. “What drives Heritage Malta can be summed up by an old Chinese proverb: To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.” This was the opening sentence of his introduction to the first Heritage Malta Annual Report (2003 – 2004). In his view, cultural heritage is sacred because as a nation, it gives us identity, dignity and credibility.

Among the work done in 2003 - 2004, there was the consolidation of Heritage Malta’s corporate structure and the signing of its first collective agreement, the formalisation of relationships with heritage sectors, locally and abroad, partnerships with the private sector, extensive maintenance and restoration works, the ratifying of an agreement with Bank of Valletta p.l.c. for the restoration and sheltering of the Tarxien Temples, and the set up of a commercial arm - HM Services Ltd. The year 2004 – 2005 saw Dr Mario Tabone coming up with the motto “giving a future to our past”.

This time he widened the role of Heritage Malta “in projecting the credibility of our country abroad”, proudly referring to the success of two exhibitions: the ‘Monaci in Armi’ at Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome which drew 200,000 visitors, and ‘Malta Temples and Tombs’ at the Allard Pierson University Museum in Amsterdam, which was visited by 25,000 people. This same year also saw Heritage Malta entrusted with the absorption of the Malta Centre for Restoration at Bighi.

9 9

In 2005 – 2006, Mario wrote about the creation of a culture of self-analysis in Heritage Malta to keep on track with its mission and to enhance itself. He invested in various courses at several levels to promote staff competence and knowledge as well as imbue the workforce with corporate ethics and vision. Experts were given the opportunity to travel to international conferences and visit centres of excellence. That year, among the work done by the agency, there were 219 activities held in Malta, Italy, Germany and Spain. Heritage Malta also took the audacious first steps to start investigating our underwater cultural heritage resources.

Mario’s statement in the Annual Report covering the years 2006 – 2007 talks about the frenetic activities of Heritage Malta which involved: capital projects, EU projects, education, conservation, research, cultural diplomacy, acquisitions, public awareness and incessant curatorial work. With pride he mentions the organisation of two major international exhibitions relating to the Chinese Terracotta Army and Caravaggio held back-to-back in one year, drawing thousands of visitors and declaring that such an unrelenting pace was only possible because of the professionalism and commitment of Heritage Malta’s staff.

In 2008, his term as Heritage Malta Chairman ended and was not renewed, to the disappointment of the majority of the agency’s staff. In a farewell message he sent to all the staff on 30 July 2008, he

10

announced that his term would be ending the day after, while thanking everyone at Heritage Malta for their work, solidarity and dedication across the past five years. He was proud that they had all worked for the same ideal: to promote the richness of the cultural heritage of the Maltese Islands. He concluded by saying that it was an honour for him to work with Heritage Malta’s staff, and while sending his best wishes to them and their families, Mario Tabone said that he would always remember this experience.

Avid Reader In spite of all the engaging work, Mario always found time to read…. a lot! There were times when he was reading three books covering different themes all at once. His thirst for knowledge was huge. There were few topics which did not attract him. His inquisitive mind searched assiduously, and he read about sciences, philosophy, literature, art, history, politics, geography, sociology, psychology and, of course, medicine, especially ophthalmology.

Mario’s vast library containing thousands of books is a living testament to an exceptional mind. Most of all, he loved to share information about what he was reading with anyone and was also curious to what books others were interested in. An excellent communicator by nature, all this knowledge enriched him with an ability to hold an intriguing conversation on anything, giving his talks and lectures which never failed to captivate his audiences.

11

In his youth, there was a lot of history going on in Russia, with the Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian Czars history still relatively recent. This gave him a passion for Russian history and literature. There were also the narratives of the persecuted Russian writers. Some of his favourite authors were Fyodor Dosteovsky, Leo Tolstoy and Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn, to name a few. Mario read and researched ardently about Russia and shared his knowledge in a number of public lectures.

In recent years, he also became fascinated by Edith Stein; a German Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Discalced Carmelite nun. She published a number of philosophical works but her life was cut short when she was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp and murdered in a gas chamber on 9 August 1942. Stein touched two of Mario’s main interests – philosophy and religion – which he always pondered and discussed about.

Hobbies Among other things, Mario had a love for animals, particularly dogs and birds, and also loved to travel. Both he and his wife joined a local History of Art group and travelled to many places around Europe. In his youth, Mario had actually considered becoming a Jesuit before he met Josephine, and an allure for theology and monasteries still lingered within him. In fact, he would regularly join Fr Hilary Tagliaferro to go on retreats to monasteries abroad, besides visiting the Manresa Retreat House in Gozo.

Timeline - Heritage Malta 12

The last years In 2008, Dr Mario Tabone received the National Order of Merit. His philosophy was to work hard, take care of his family and live an honest life. His most challenging time was in 2020, when his beloved wife passed away. Family members and all who were close to him reveal that this loss took a huge toll on him.

He lived a full life, working and travelling practically until the day he died on 20 August 2022, aged 83. His funeral took place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish at Tal-Ibraġġ, and was laid to rest in the family grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery.

13

13

HERITAGE MALTA

Main achievements during Dr Mario Tabone’s tenure 15 DECEMBER 2003 31 MARCH 2004 Heritage Malta organised the exhibition ‘100 Years of Heritage: 1903-2003’ at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

28 APRIL 2004 31 JULY 2004 Heritage Malta organised the exhibition ‘Malta – Roots of a Nation’ at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta as part of the EU accession celebrations, officially inaugurated by President Dr Eddie Fenech Adami.

5 JULY 2004 5 JULY 2005

2003 - 2004 Various notable improvements were implemented in the Palace Armoury. Pieces of armour previously dispersed in the reserve collection were reassembled and put on display for the first time.

Another major step forward was the re-acquisition of rooms which had been ‘loaned’ to the House of Representatives in 1990.

The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu hosted the exhibition ‘The Art of Pain: Torture Instruments from the Middle Ages to the 19th century’ which was organised in collaboration with the Museo Criminale Medievale of San Gimignano in Siena, Italy and under the patronage of Amnesty International (Malta Group).

14

26 FEBRUARY 2005 The Domvs Romana (formerly known as the Roman Villa) in Rabat, was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Lawrence Gonzi.

28 OCTOBER 2004 28 FEBRUARY 2005 Staging of the exhibition ‘Malta - Temples and Tombs’ at the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam, Holland.

22 MARCH 2005 Following an amendment to the Cultural Heritage Act, the Malta Centre for Restoration (MCR) was incorporated into Heritage Malta and became known as the Conservation Division.

The building at Bighi now housed the conservation unit of Heritage Malta as well as the Institute for Conservation and Management for Cultural Heritage (ICHMCH) which was entrusted with the organisation of academic courses at various levels.

15 DECEMBER 2004 15 APRIL 2005 The Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Romano and Regione Lazio, in collaboration with Heritage Malta, Aeronautica Militare and Banca Nuova, organised an international exhibition titled ‘Monaci in Armi – Gli Ordini Religioso – Militari dai Templari alla Battaglia di Lepanto: Storia ed Arte’ at the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome, Italy.

15

MAY 2006

2 NOVEMBER 2005 Heritage Malta finalised an agreement with Din l-Art Ħelwa on the joint management of the Abbatija tad-Dejr in Rabat, with the view of conserving the site and opening it up to the general public.

2005 - 2006 Heritage Malta pursued intensive preparatory work for Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and the Tarxien Temples ERDF projects.

14 JULY 2005 The Gozo Area Office was officially inaugurated in the new premises within the late 18th-century granary adjacent to the Cavalier of St Martin.

16

Following extensive renovation, this month saw the completion of the new Medieval Hall at the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, whereby an innovative, attractive and user-friendly display concept that makes extensive use of graphics was adopted. By the end of the year, the planned revamp of the prehistoric display was also in an advanced stage of design.

30 SEPTEMBER 2007 30 NOVEMBER 2007 The exhibition titled ‘Caravaggio. L’Immagine del Divino’, was held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. The exhibition was organised

by Heritage Malta and Romartificio Eventi d’Arte, with the collaboration of the Government of Malta, Renaissance Productions Ltd and Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Romano.

2008 The National Collection entrusted to Heritage Malta’s care was significantly enriched, particularly with the acquisition of the Ganado Map Collection, the Lazzaro Pisani bequest and the acquisition of several important coins of the Order of St John.

1 MARCH 2007 31 JULY 2007 Heritage Malta and Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau with the collaboration of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malta and the MTAC, organised the exhibition ‘Silent Warriors: The Chinese Terracotta Soldiers’ at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

17

IVAN BARBARA

Manager: Security, Health & Safety, Heritage Malta I first met Dr Mario Tabone when I started working with Heritage Malta in 2004. With the Head Office set up at the Old University building in Valletta, it was very easy to meet in the corridor or just being called in for a quick chat while passing in front of his office door. This habit of his built up a very good rapport with all those who were part of Heritage Malta during Dr Tabone’s tenure as Chairman.

Personally, Dr Tabone was not just the Chairman of the agency I worked for. He was a colleague and a mentor, but most of all a friend. With Dr Tabone around, the day was never dull even during the toughest of times. I remember him asking me whenever we had tough calls to deal with, whether I needed him to be present for support. And when my reply was in the negative, he always insisted that I should call him if any problem cropped up. Other times, he made it his duty to be present, such as when we were expecting the Caravaggio paintings to be delivered for the exhibition and similarly with the delivery of the Terracotta Warriors. Once, he also insisted to accompany me for the sites’ visits during the Christmas Season together with the then CEO Ms Antoinette Caruana to get acquainted with the watchmen working at the sites at the time. Dr Tabone was also a showrunner during social events with his always respectful quick wits and good humour entertaining the group.

The best side of Dr Tabone’s character was that he loved to show appreciation in the most affectionate way. Once he came over and gave me a hug, and immediately apologized. He explained that in his family, hugging was a natural way of greeting family and friends and that is what we, Heritage Malta employees, were to him - family and friends. I feel honoured and privileged for having worked at Heritage Malta under the guidance and mentorship of Dr Mario Tabone.

PROF. ANTHONY BONANNO Professor, University of Malta

I had the privilege of knowing Dr Mario Tabone for many years, mostly as a congenial member of a group of aficionados who used to travel on cultural tours every year to a different destination, including Mexico, Syria, Iran and Uzbekistan. Mario’s

18

18

profound knowledge and engaging storytelling transformed each tour into a captivating journey through time. His ability to seamlessly blend historical facts with anecdotes made the past come alive.

Dr Tabone’s amiable demeanour endeared him to the group. His genuine enthusiasm and affable nature fostered a sense of camaraderie, turning each tour into not just an educational experience but a delightful adventure shared among friends.

I was even more privileged to serve on the Board of Directors of Heritage Malta under his chairmanship.

Mario was an extraordinarily erudite man whose passion for cultural heritage was contagious and left an indelible mark on all fortunate enough to work with him. His unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting Malta’s rich historical and archaeological heritage has left an indelible legacy. His courteous human relations were evident in his interactions both with the fellow members of the Board and with every single employee of the government heritage agency he led.

PIERRE BONELLO Manager: Exhibitions, Heritage Malta

He was always there for all members of staff right from the start, until he became a father figure. The fact that he was a medical doctor helped, but it was an integral part of his character. He always listened, especially when the issue being discussed was new to him. He was always ready to learn and give his input. He was at his office in Valletta practically every day and discussed the current issues of the agency with staff. He was with us on the steps of the museum at night waiting for the Terracotta Warriors to arrive. I remember long evening meetings with colleagues solving the constant problems encountered to organize the Caravaggio exhibition.

He made it a point to attend inaugurations of exhibitions abroad. His last such visit was in June 2008 at Alicante. Together with other colleagues, I was with him returning to Malta, when I received a sms informing me that Dr Tabone was removed from Chairman of Heritage Malta. I had to give him the

19

19

TESTIMONIALS

I saw Dr Mario Tabone the first time on TV, discussing the love of his life - books. We met personally in 2003 when he was introduced to us as our new Chairman.

news. He looked at me with sad eyes and told me that he was expecting it. During the return voyage, my colleague came up with the idea of doing a petition among Heritage Malta staff to thank Dr Tabone for all his work and ask the minister to reconsider; and so we did. At one point, Dr Tabone told me to stop the petition. He was afraid that we would be disciplined. However, we collected the signatures of more than 74% of the staff, to no avail.

After 2008, we remained very good friends. Together with other colleagues we used to meet regularly for dinner and go for a walk talking about current issues. What always amazed me was the fact that up to 14 years after being Heritage Malta Chairman, he still used the words ‘us’ and ‘we’ when speaking about Heritage Malta.

In my 37 years working in museums, I was lucky to meet and work with various great persons. I am proud to say that Dr Mario Tabone is at the very top of the list.

JOHN JOSEPH BORG

Senior Curator: Natural History Unit, Heritage Malta The ability to listen and understand one’s vision was one of Dr Mario Tabone’s enduring traits. Following our first meeting at Heritage Malta’s Head Office in Valletta, Dr Tabone was adamant that we meet for a coffee every other week to discuss a way forward for the Natural History Museum in Mdina. Being himself a scientist, he totally understood the role and function of a wellpresented museum, highlighting the various impacts and trends as well as the role humans play in the shaping of our natural environment.

He played a fundamental role himself in the acquisition and the preparation of the Maltese Cow which is on display in the museum, and he was always available to officially receive significant donations to the museum. When the late Guido Lanfranco decided to donate his insect collection, without any hesitation, Dr Tabone was present to acknowledge this donation and in his usual self of quoting famous writers in his speeches, he once again, did not disappoint.

His presence and knowledge will surely be missed by all. I dearly miss our weekly coffee breaks and the various topics we covered. I will always remember Mario as a true gentleman and a fellow scientist.

20

20

ANTOINETTE CARUANA

Director, Farsons Foundation It truly was a privilege to work closely with Dr Mario Tabone during my tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Malta in those early critical formative years of the national agency. It is a sine qua non that Mario Tabone was totally committed to safeguarding and acknowledging Malta’s rich heritage and to creating a future for our past of which he was so proud and about which he was so knowledgeable. To me, he was a much-respected mentor, a keen supporter, and a source of great encouragement and enthusiasm, driven by a shared objective to build a strong foundation for Heritage Malta and to develop a strong sense of purpose both for the people who worked at Heritage Malta and its collaborators.

Those early Heritage Malta days were challenging to say the least. With the appointment of Mario Tabone as Chairman, I acquired a strong motivator, who not only dreamt of great things but was eager and enthusiastic to support me and our teams in practice. Always available, always ready to discuss and to meet with all who could help us achieve our dreams, our vision and our plans. He was much respected whether we were attending Cabinet meetings to share our plans and make a case for important budgets, or meeting ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, or visiting heritage sites and museums, meeting our people to share our plans and to listen to their experiences and thoughts.

Together, it was possible to make significant changes to working practices and to work on a culture where people felt proud to be part of this new agency and the objectives for which it was set up.

Mario Tabone was a dreamer, he believed many things were possible (if not everything) and in many things, we succeeded … even if, in some cases, it was sowing seeds for future growth and for those who came after us.

21

21

TESTIMONIALS

He was proud to be Maltese, Gozitan actually. A true son of Malta and Gozo, committed to creating awareness of our rich heritage amongst all stakeholders, all sectors of the population, locally and abroad. His vision was far reaching and our (small) size, our lack of resources in those early days did not deter us from big dreams, planning critical projects and seeking important acquisitions to safeguard and grow our collections, heritage sites and museums. Doors were knocked upon and opened. Slowly but steadily, steps forward were made and strong foundations built.

Dr Mario Tabone loved people. He got to know many personally. He asked about their families, their health, their education and so many other things. Most loved him and showed him great respect too. He was known also as a beloved ‘eye doctor’. Actually, a renowned ophthalmologist. Yet, he always remained down to earth, never pretentious and always ready to help or grant appointments to whoever needed his attention. He seemed to remember one and all. I remain forever grateful for the patience he showed my late father who had a firm belief (despite his growing dementia) in Dr Tabone’s abilities and professionalism. Many will also attest that his charges were often waived and that his generosity was widely known.

“How many books do you own Dr Tabone?” “Do you want to know the truth or what I tell Josephine?” he is said to have responded. The story is that he probably had some 15,000 books which he loved.

Books he would say were to be found in all cupboards, wardrobes and units at his home. Space was an issue. He used to tell me that he read different books at the same time, switching from science to history … to anything that caught his interest. I was in awe of him and his acquired knowledge about so many different subjects.

Of the many things that I will always recall about Dr Tabone, was his life partner and loving wife Josephine. It was evident that Mario, was Josephine’s all. She often recounted their early courting days, their wedding and updates of their pride and joy – their family. Dr Tabone was immensely proud of his creative and artistic daughter, as well as his two sons with whom he enjoyed some men trips. He spoke about them and his grandchildren with great love. When he was ill years later, I remember the tenderness and great concern for his wife. When Josephine became ill and eventually passed to the arms of our Lord, a light went out of Mario’s life.

Truly a gentleman of the old school. Well-mannered with a wicked sense of humour, great wit and a jovial character, few things really angered him but at times, when they did, they did. He had a moral compass and strong values which meant much to me. I suppose whilst he was always my muchrespected chairman, he was also a father figure to be looked up to. He charmed so many people.

It was easy to like him, but make no mistake, he would not tolerate fools and had harsh words for those whose intent was not genuine. I learnt from him, not only from his vast intellect but through his character, his positive and determined attitude, as well as his manners and diplomatic skills which stood us in good stead. He is sorely missed but leaves a strong legacy.

22

22

DR MARTINA CARUANA Director, MCAST

My memories of Dr Mario Tabone go back to my childhood days. His daughter Simone attended at my school, and I also remember family and professional encounters. This was long before I had the pleasure to work under his chairmanship at Heritage Malta. But by then, he was already acknowledged by his peers and friends as a highly intelligent person with a deep interest in the world around him, well beyond things medical.

His appointment as Heritage Malta’s Chairman came when I had already been serving in the heritage sector, initially at the Malta Centre for Restoration. The centre and its institute were later absorbed by Heritage Malta, and I remained engaged within the fields of conservation-restoration and cultural heritage management education. My remit also embraced that of the institution’s research.

Dr Tabone’s love for both academia and our national heritage naturally translated into many an inspirational discussion. His passion was passed on to those around him and we all looked forward to his erudite speeches during the various events that he spearheaded or supported.

His departure was certainly a loss for the sector, but most especially for his dear family whom I salute.

PIERRE CASSAR

I had the privilege of working closely alongside Dr Mario Tabone during my tenure as Communications Manager at Heritage Malta, where he served as Chairman. It was the early months of 2004 when I first met this remarkable individual. A distinguished ophthalmic surgeon but also a connoisseur of culture and history, he left a lasting impression on me. His passion for reading was unrivalled.

Beyond his official role as Chairman of Heritage Malta, Dr Tabone embodied the spirit of a custodian, a guardian entrusted with the island’s rich tapestry of culture and history. Throughout his term, he ardently championed initiatives to raise awareness about Malta’s distinctive cultural heritage.

23

TESTIMONIALS

Director of Marketing, Communications and Alumni, University of Malta

One vivid memory etched in my mind is the jubilant atmosphere Dr Tabone exuded when we successfully secured the loan of the Terracotta Warriors for the groundbreaking exhibition ‘Silent Warriors’.

The pinnacle of his accomplishment came to fruition on 3 March 2007, the inauguration day of the exhibition. His elation knew no bounds. He had achieved what many considered an impossible feat within cultural circles. Dr Tabone’s unwavering persistence bore fruit when over 75,000 visitors walked through the doors of the National Museum of Archaeology during the five months that the exhibition was open to the public.

CHEV. RAY CASSAR

Trainer and Training Advisor, Identity Malta Agency Long before I joined Heritage Malta, back in 2004 as Business Development Manager, I had known Dr Mario Tabone as the family ophthalmologist; a field he excelled in, not only professionally but also philanthropically, given the number of people he treated without charging a penny. I am proud to say that I enjoyed an excellent working relationship with him. He was affable and possessed a tremendous sense of humour. He loved to exchange jokes over a drink, although the conversation would always swing to his favourite subject - books. He was an avid collector of books and a great lover of history. He was a man of a vast cultural portfolio. This fact was reflected in the many memorable public speeches he delivered as Chairman of Heritage Malta where he held everyone spellbound and mesmerised by every brilliant word he spoke. I remember well the famous speech that he delivered at the Museum of Archaeology in 2005 when he coined the proverbial phrase “giving a future to our past”. At the time, Heritage Malta could not have had a better man to imbibe it with a deep love for our cultural heritage and a mission to guard and protect it, which it is still fulfilling so admirably today.

KENNETH GAMBIN Chief Operations Officer, Heritage Malta

‘X’qed taqra?’ (“What are you reading?”) was invariably the question whenever we met. It was the perfect excuse for sharing his views on the book he would be currently reading, inevitably ending with some reference to Russian culture.

Perhaps it was this desire to learn and discuss that drove him to identify so 24

much with what the fledging agency stood for, and why staff took to him instantly. His infectious passion and charisma did the rest. He managed to make me discover energy I did not know I possessed; to organize, with all my colleagues, an unprecedented number of cultural initiatives. Not necessarily following a plan but pushed forward by an irrepressible enthusiasm and vigour.

It was hard work, but it did not really weigh on us as it should have. It was an enjoyable adventure: the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra shelters, the opposition to the proposed Mnajdra landfill, the opening of a Heritage Malta office in Gozo, and the ‘nights out’ transporting cannon, or receiving artefacts from abroad for the latest international exhibition.

However, the thing which perhaps left the most lasting impact was his conviction that cultural heritage belongs to all, and the consequent drive to popularise it with everyone. It was Dr Tabone’s firm belief that cultural heritage gives us dignity and identity, and it is only through cultural heritage that we can stand as a nation with other nations.

Dr Tabone shall be justly remembered as the founding father of Heritage Malta.

He was one of us.

DR REUBEN GRIMA

Senior Lecturer, University of Malta

It only took a brief conversation with Mario for him to decide Heritage Malta’s stand. ‘Draft me the letter’ he said. ‘If Government is taking a stupid decision (the adjective in Maltese that he used, dear reader, was more colourful, and less printable), it remains a stupid decision whoever is in Government’. Within hours, he was signing the letter. As a result of Heritage Malta’s objection, the three sites were not included in the Development Zone.

25

25

TESTIMONIALS

I saw Dr Mario Tabone’s mettle shortly before the infamous Rationalisation of Development Zone boundaries that took place in 2006. When we heard that a public consultation was being conducted in preparation for the change in boundaries, I pulled together my trusted team of archaeologists in the Prehistoric Sites Unit, and together we identified three areas which were being proposed for inclusion within the Development Zone boundaries, that would have a particularly severe impact on the cultural landscape.

EMMANUEL MAGRO CONTI Senior Manager: Collections and Knowledge Management, Heritage Malta

Seldom does one meet a doctor and enjoys the encounter. Well, I enjoyed every moment with Dr Tabone.

Apart from being a doctor and an ophthalmologist, he was also my Chairman at Heritage Malta between 2003 and 2008. During the numerous ‘solemn’ and not so ‘solemn’ meetings around boardroom tables, relaxed on his office sofa, around or in museums and sites, two things were sure to be expected – humour and a very academic exchange with Dr Tabone. His in-depth study and explanation of life experiences as found in The Voyage of the (HMS) Beagle by Charles Darwin reminiscent to today’s life was second to none.

His trust in me prompted my acceptance to lead Heritage Malta’s first ever EU related project Mercator in 2006 as the lead partner of six participating EU nations. His everlasting trust in me, be it as just Manuel or as one of the senior curators within Heritage Malta was so humanly displayed in November 2004 at Pinto Stores at the Valletta Waterfront. The event was Heritage Malta’s first annual International Conference on Investing in Cultural Heritage. We left Heritage Malta’s old Head Office at Valletta and all was going well when Dr Tabone called me close to him in his incognito manner. To his consternation, Heritage Malta’s gifts for the participating individuals and institutions had been left behind at his office! He asked me to fetch them handing me his office, car and house keys, to which I hesitantly queried, “Your keys...should I just open...?”, but Dr Tabone interrupted saying, “Yes, go in and get the gifts….You’re trusted with so many museum treasures, should I not trust you with my keys?” beaming that fatherly smile which I will never forget.

26

JOSEPH MIZZI

Director, Midsea Books and Klabb Kotba Maltin Mario and my father Pawlu knew each other well. My mother recollects that their friendship goes back to the years when my father started his teaching career. In those days, in the early fifties of the last century, having teaching duties for apprentice teachers was no easy task. Commuting between the islands was dependent on a few trips per day and when the weather was rough, the service was halted, leaving stranded anyone who wanted to go to work or was ardent to return home. It was on one of these rough days when my father, not being able to make it to Malta where he taught at St Joseph Technical Institute, was asked to go teach at the Government Primary School in Vajrinġa Street, Victoria. There he was assigned a class at Standard Four for the day, and it was on that day that he came across Mario for the first time, still a young student.

Nothwithstanding their early encounter, their friendship was kindled many years after when both settled in Malta. I believe it was comforting for them to seek some form of solice in each other. Mario, an established eye doctor and my father, a teacher and a publisher. Their love for history, culture, arts, politics and whatever Malta was made of, was their common ground for discourse.

I distinctly remember the day when we discussed the discovery of Luigi Maria Ugolini’s archive on Malta. His eyes gleamed and immediately he started churning out all the information he had on the archaeologist and what a treasure had been unearthed. It was this enthusiasm that forged the collaboration agreement to have the archive scanned, studied, and finally published after 20 years.

Even when his term was over, he never ceased to ask about the progress of work.

Mario will be remembered for his virtues more than his attributes. Undoubtedly, his incredible way of interacting with people was outstanding. His ease of communicating with anyone and everyone was an art only a few could master like him.

27

TESTIMONIALS

It was in the years when Mario was Chairperson of Heritage Malta that we fostered the same friendship as he had with my father. He was always eager to ask about the publication projects we were working on and how the newly set-up agency could improve in bringing the community closer at large to learn from our past and preserve it for our future.

NICOLINE SAGONA Senior Curator: Gozo Museums & Sites, Heritage Malta

I have known Dr Tabone from a very young age, since he was my mother’s eye specialist. When I was employed with Heritage Malta in 2005, it was a pleasure meeting him again in his new role. Since those very early days in my career in cultural heritage, he always showed a lot of interest in Gozo matters.

I would describe him as both a respectful and respectable person. He was soft spoken and goodhumoured and made you feel at ease. He appreciated every employee’s role, no matter their position on the career ladder. He was a man of great intellect, not only in ophthalmology, but in such a wide variety of topics, having gained great knowledge from reading widely.

During his time as Heritage Malta’s Chairman, we used to organise many small, temporary exhibitions in Gozo. He would always support us and was present at many official openings. Dr Tabone had Gozo at heart and whenever we met, both during office hours as well as outside the office, especially in Marsalforn which he loved, he would stop to talk about current matters, or my job, or my family. I will continue to cherish my memories of him.

PIERRE SAMMUT Chief Financial Officer, Charles Grech & Co.

I met Dr Tabone the first time I joined Heritage Malta as Head Finance and Business Development, and I must say that he was that type of person who would make you feel welcome immediately, mostly because of his charismatic character and undoubtedly his smile. I used to enjoy the small talks we used to have at the 28

premises’ yard while he smoked a cigarette, where the talk would be either about a book that he was reading or a book that he read or else recounting a joke where everyone laughed about it, including himself.

His highlights were the Terracotta Warriors exhibition, and soon after the Caravaggio exhibition, where everyone was happy in going that extra mile to make him proud of his team. Dr Tabone was the type of person who with his encouragement made you feel good while aiming to succeed in the goal that you were entrusted with. Out of the many EU projects that I was responsible for, I clearly recall the Mercator Interreg III EU Project where he addressed the audience in the conclusive conference with a speech which was always well studied and enriched with historical background. A true gentleman who is sorely missed and fondly remembered.

JOSEPH SCHIRÒ Paper Conservator

With the maps which Heritage Malta already had in its collection, including the Count Messina Bequest, and with new important acquisitions such as the Saliba map for the Gozo Museum, Heritage Malta can now boast of having the largest collection of Malta maps in the world. To honour this achievement, the Malta Map Society had made Dr Mario Tabone an honorary life member.

29

TESTIMONIALS

I cannot say I have had the honour of knowing Dr Tabone very well, as my conversations with him were usually brief and mostly during social occasions. However, I can never forget his greatest accomplishment in managing to be the catalyst for Heritage Malta to acquire the whole map collection of Dr Albert Ganado in 2008. Many perhaps still do not realise how invaluable Dr Ganado’s map collection is, because this was not only the transfer of 450 maps to the State, but the gift of 60 years of collecting, something which could never be repeated. Dr Tabone, being the erudite person that he was, had the vision, the patience and the negotiating skills necessary to persuade people in Government to pass a resolution in Parliament for its acquisition, which was met with unanimous approval from both sides of the House, an unprecedented achievement.

MARTIN SPITERI Curator & Collections Manager, Farsons

Dr Tabone would have belonged to the humanist movement during the Renaissance period. His enormous quest for knowledge and his urge to share this generously with all was extremely admirable.

There were several instances, during my years of meeting Dr Tabone, well before my joining a nascent Heritage Malta, that I had shared my love for books with him, turning into awe when I visited his library. When Dr Tabone spoke about his books, the conversation would become inspirational, with him quoting randomly from thousands of texts he had read. He did not do this to impress, although I certainly was every time, but merely build, present and qualify any discussion being held. Many a time, he used to call me into his office to tell me excitedly about a new book, or two, that he had recently purchased, introducing me to an overabundance of authors.

Dr Tabone was a man of worthy values, reaching out medically, intellectually, but, above all, humbly and humanly to all those around him, from all walks of life. These qualities made Heritage Malta employees full of open admiration and a strong sense of loyalty towards him, consequently to the organisation’s goals, helping it grow and give sound foundations in those exciting early days.

SHARON SULTANA Senior Manager: Archaeology and Natural History, Heritage Malta

Dr Tabone was the embodiment of the definition of a true gentleman who will always be spoken of with great fondness by people who worked at Heritage Malta during his tenure. His unpretentious and humble character empowered all workers to have an open line of communication with him 30

and such exchanges were not necessarily only work related. He enquired about one’s family and interests, and discussions with him would vary from the simplest of subjects to more philosophical ones.

My personal sentimental memory of him, which I will remember warm-heartedly forever, dates to December 2009 when I was in hospital for two weeks. Although it had been a whole year since he had left Heritage Malta, he used to call every other day to enquire about my health, even asking the names of the medicinals I was being given, in order to gauge my health status. This meant so much to me and the memory still puts a smile on my face today.

A particular moment I remember is the transportation of artefacts for the ‘Silent Warriors’ exhibition which was held at the National Museum of Archaeology in 2007. It was a very long night, and an extremely delicate operation. Dr Tabone would always be physically present with us on such occasions and his support was truly felt and appreciated by all.

PROF. ALFRED J. VELLA

To my mind, Dr Mario Tabone was truly a perfect gentleman. Besides, he was also our trusted family eye doctor. Mario would not be satisfied simply by giving professional advice or prescribing a medicine, but he would spend time explaining in careful detail why he thinks the problem you were presented with requires the treatment he recommends. I think Mario was a teacher at heart even if, as far as I know, he may not have formally practiced the art. When I served as a member of the Board of Heritage Malta, Dr Tabone was its Chair. During meetings, I could observe his people-handling abilities at closer range, and also his approach to addressing challenges. Mario’s gentle manners were superb: he could disagree with you on an issue but without making himself disagreeable. And his frequent spontaneous chuckles were so natural and certainly contributed to make his character even more amiable. His erudition, which spanned subjects well beyond his ophthalmic and medical expertise, coupled with his gentle, low-key manner, served to win the hearts and minds of collaborators. It was a pleasure working with Mario Tabone especially on heritage issues on which he spoke with passion and conviction.

31

31

TESTIMONIALS

Rector, University of Malta

GODWIN VELLA

Manager: Publishing, Libraries and Didactic Resources, Heritage Malta “We must be collegial at all times”.

This is Dr Mario Tabone’s introductory statement during the first Heritage Malta Board of Directors meeting under his chairmanship. Looking back at his five-year tenure, Dr Tabone lost no single opportunity to walk the talk. He took keen interest in each endeavor and never hesitated to walk the extra mile with us. Heritage Malta and all it stands for was sacrosanct to him, and nothing short of excellent was conceivable. His able stewardship and firm creed were providential at that juncture. The then infant agency achieved quantum leaps within short spans and won the esteem of one and all. Suffice to note that Fort St Angelo, the most iconic heritage resource of the Maltese Islands, was entrusted to Heritage Malta during this stint.

He determinedly believed in the fundamental right of heritage accessibility and enjoyment. Whether physical, intellectual, financial, or cultural, all barriers had to be dismantled. Guided by his vision, Heritage Malta embarked on a comprehensive and upbeat programme of outreach initiatives.

Indeed, the people of Malta and Gozo were given the unprecedented opportunity to discover and explore national treasures that had fallen into oblivion.

This said, Dr Tabone never forsook his first love – Gozo. He spoke of his childhood days in post-war Gozo with great fondness, and any opportunity to visit his native island was unfailingly exploited. Dr Tabone spearheaded the setting up of Heritage Malta’s area office in Gozo, and even convened a couple of board meetings in the same regional quarters within the walls of the Ċittadella to make sure that the sister island was constantly on the agency’s agenda. Preparatory works in connection with the Ġgantija Park ERDF Project triggered during his term. It was also thanks to his mediations that a significant corpus of representative artefacts hailing from Gozo were returned and placed on permanent display.

Each minute in his presence was genuinely edifying. Cordial, receptive and eager to broaden his knowledge, Dr Tabone was Heritage Malta’s North Star.

32

CECILIA XUEREB Author

When Dr Tabone was appointed Chairman of Heritage Malta and asked me to join his team as his PA, I was thrilled to accept. I knew him as a friend, an erudite person and an outgoing generous professional. His interests were very wide-ranging, covering a gamut of subjects with which he had more than a superficial acquaintance.

When he joined Heritage Malta, he brought together all his interests and placed them at the service of his country’s heritage with great passion. From the beginning, he was determined to give Heritage Malta the high profile it deserved and he worked indefatigably to achieve this end, often at the expense of his private practice as an ophthalmologist.

He used to come to the office every day and knew exactly what was happening in the various departments. Often, we would discuss a topic and I would realise that as he spoke, he was clarifying his own ideas. No day passed when I did not learn something new. My stint at Heritage Malta got me acquainted with many talented and wonderful persons who have remained my friends. It was a pleasure to work with a go-getter who was above all a gentleman.

33

33

TESTIMONIALS

A new project always excited him, and no challenge was too much for him. Above all, he had great faith in his staff whom he befriended and respected and became very proud of them. He encouraged them to work on their specialisations and to publish the results of their research. He made it a point of paying regular visits to all the sites within his remit and used to discuss problems, as well as possibilities of improvement and development. In this, he was aided and supported by a very able CEO, Antoinette Caruana, whom he described as a “maverick”, an independent spirit but no rebel, even before I had met her.

NOEL ZAMMIT

Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Malta During Dr Mario Tabone’s tenure as Chairman of Heritage Malta, I occupied the post of Manager ICT and was based at Bighi Head Office. I did not have much direct contact with Dr Tabone. However, there was one encounter that will remain embedded in my memory forever and which took place at Bighi Head Office in 2006.

I was walking along the main terrace when I ran into Dr Tabone enjoying the view of Valletta from that vantage point. Tucked under my arm, I had a book titled Information Imagineering, that is considered to be quite technical, and which, I thought until that moment, was a subject only for IT buffs.

No sooner had Dr Tabone spotted the book, he asked me, “What’s that book about?”, with his right hand outstretched to take hold of the paperback. I immediately handed it to him. “Aaah, Information Imagineering! Interesting! I’ve read about this ... it’s the process of imagining how information can be engineered.”

I had known that Dr Tabone was – to put it mildly – an avid bookworm, but I never expected him to be knowledgeable about that topic, especially at a time when I was the only IT person at Heritage Malta.

We went on talking about how information can be engineered through imagination, our conversation lasting for ten minutes or so. The geek in me was in awe!

34

Bronze bust of Dr Mario Tabone

by Joseph Scerri inaugurated at Heritage Malta Head Office on Wednesday 29 November 2023 in the presence of his family members.

“Heritage belongs to everyone … It’s not there for professors and experts, it belongs to all of us.” True to his word, Dr Tabone left no stone unturned to create an awareness among the general public, instilling a sense of pride serving as an incentive to learn more about our rich history. His enthusiasm was contagious, and his drive and charisma assembled the agency’s employees behind him. Under his tenure, Heritage Malta introduced and organised a large selection of educational programmes - especially targeting the younger audiences - publications, projects, and events, raising standards within Heritage Malta sites to international level. A wide range of exhibitions, both locally and abroad, were executed to a high degree of professionalism. His energy knew no bounds, and in 2007, Heritage Malta held two of its mammoth exhibitions to date, that of the renowned Chinese Terracotta Soldiers and Caravaggio. Organising one of them was no mean feat, let alone two back-to-back, and he always credited his excellent staff for the success.

Mario Cutajar Chairman