JOE E SPITERI AWARD
AWARDS
2005
2006
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Joe was born in Luqa but lived his childhood in Mellieha and Rabat, until he got married, and then went to live in Sliema. He lived the last days of his life in St. Paul’s Bay.
Joe married Lucienne Pecorella on Assumption Day in 1981 at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sliema. They had two children, Kristian and Jonathan. Like Joe, his family has always been a living proof of kindness, genuity and collectiveness that is so scarce today. Joe was inseparable from his family, and my colleagues and I being so close to him came to know Lucienne and his children, as if they were part of our lives. It had to be his passing away that broke this beautiful bond.
Joe started to work within the Public Health Department on the 12th March 1970. He worked in various districts such as Rabat, Qormi and Sliema. Later on he worked at the Food Safety Unit and was also instrumental in setting up the Food Safety Commission Secretariat where he worked till the end. For Joe, work was the second most precious thing after his family. Whoever knew Joe, knew how straight forward and to the point he was. His work was precise and meticulous and in no way would he budge on his basic principles even when under pressure, work pressure that most of us experience.
But Joe’s best quality was his calm temperament. Joe was the definition of calmness. I never experienced Joe in an angry mood. Not because he was never angry but Joe had the capability to control anger and to remain calm also in the most frustrating of circumstances. Moreover he used to generate a sense of calmness around him even in not so calm situations.
He was also very precise especially when it came to numbers. Who did not phone Joe to check if he had got his increase in salary as it should be, or if the allowance was exact, or why the salary increase after a promotion was only of a few cents. And Joe in all his patience used to explain why, working out the numbers, to the last cent. Only then would you have your mind at rest. Only when Joe told you that you were not screwed.
As he shared his family with us, Joe also used to share his happiness as well. You could see his eyes glee with happiness when one of his children passed an exam. He used to be anxious to phone up Lucienne to give her the good news, but all of us would know the news before her. He also shared with us his sorrow and pains especially towards the end of his life. Joe knew that he was seriously ill and he used to share his experiences with us, with such a courageous stature. Despite knowing exactly the consequences of his illness he stayed tranquil till the end. I cannot forget his last day of work.. Joe knew that he was not going to return. It was an honour working with Joe.
Joe died on the 25th March 2005 at 3pm. It was Good Friday. Behind him he left a big void especially with his family but also at work. It has not been once or twice that we mention him especially when we do something that would not have gone down well with Joe.
Joe was instrumental with his encouragement in setting up this association. He used to attend all social activities and academic ones. His support was continuous. It was because of all this that the Executive Committee unanimously voted to set up this award and name it as The Joe E. Spiteri Award.
Thank you Joe.
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