Sir Anthony Mamo, Malta’s first President of the Republic, died yesterday morning at the Casa Arkati home for the elderly. He was 99.

Sir Anthony Mamo was born in Birkirkara on 9 January, 1909, and was educated at the Archbishop’s seminary and the University of Malta, from where he graduated as a lawyer in 1934.

In 1942 he joined the Attorney-General’s Office as one of the Crown Counsels, occupying in succession all the grades, until he himself became Attorney-General in 1955. He was named Chief Justice in 1957 and Governor-General in 1971 before he was appointed the first President of the Republic on 13 December, 1974, a post he held until 26 December, 1976 when he was succeeded by the late Anton Buttigieg.

He served under four Prime Ministers – Sir Paul Boffa, Dr Enrico Mizzi, Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier and Mr Dom Mintoff – as chief legal adviser to them personally and their Cabinets.

Sir Anthony Mamo was Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Malta from 1943 up to 1957, when he was appointed Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal.

He was awarded the OBE in 1955 and knighted two years later.

Sir Anthony married Margaret Agius in 1939 and they had two daughters, Josephine and Monica, and a son, John.

The last time he was seen in public was on his 99th birthday last January, when President Eddie Fenech Adami had visited him at the Mosta home for the celebration. That day, Dr Fenech Adami had pointed out to Sir Anthony that, at 99, he was the oldest former head of state.

“I knew I am old but I didn’t know I was the oldest ex-head of state!”, Sir Anthony had then commented.

“I thank God for all these years he has lent me and hope that I have made good use of them. I still feel very good despite being 99 years old, and I am happy to note that some of the most outstanding people of today were my students, including the President,” Sir Anthony had added.

In announcing his death yesterday morning, the Department of Information said that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had called Sir Anthony’s family to express his and his government’s condolences.

In a statement, the Malta Labour Party expressed their condolences to Sir Anthony’s family, saying that he will be remembered as the first president of the nation, an experience which Sir Anthony had described as the most important in his life.

Sir Anthony will be remembered also for his intellectual capabilities and his professional integrity, the MLP said.

The Nationalist Party also issued a statement to express its condolences, saying that the death of Sir Anthony Mamo is a big loss for the country.

Asked for his comments, Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici described Sir Anthony Mamo as a person “who did a lot of good for the people.”

“As Chief Justice, Sir Anthony issued a great number of judgments which were clear, ground breaking in their rationale and far reaching in their social dimension. He was a truly an enlightened person.

“As the country’s first native head of state, Sir Anthony made Malta proud as he was representative of all its inhabitants and was also a uniting factor between the two parties.

“It is almost providential that his demise came about on Worker’s Day, as one can immediately spot how workers were close to his heart through judgments he delivered with regard to disabilities and protection of workers.

“Sir Anthony’s legacy in the legal world lies also in his notes on criminal law, which are a must for each law student. His notes are relevant, clear and well researched and convey to the student the thoughts of his own professors, amongst them my own grandfather il-Gross.”

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State funeral today

Sir Anthony Mamo's state funeral will be held today, the government announced.

The body of Sir Anthony Mamo will lie in state in the Main Entrance of the Palace, Valletta, today between 10am and 12.45pm.

A Mass praesente cadavere will be held at St John's Co-Cathedral at 2pm. The Mass will be led by Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona.

A funeral cortege will then leave St John's Co-Cathedral and move up Republic Street towards City Gate. The funeral will then proceed privately.

The government has ordered that all flags on public buildings should fly at half-mast all through the day.

Between 2pm and 4.30pm, public transport will be operating from St Anne Street, Floriana.