Former dentist, Nationalist Party councillor and sport administrator Herbert Messina Ferrante passed away yesterday morning, after a long illness.

He would have turned 81 on 4 January.

Messina Ferrante, educated at St Aloysius College, graduated as a dentist in 1960.

He was a founder member of the Self-Employed Union in 1970 and became its president in 1979.

He was vice-president of Sliema Wanderers for 10 years before becoming president between 1987 and 1993. He was awarded the sportsmanship trophy in 1980.

He was also a local councillor for the Nationalist Party in Attard and was president of the Nationalist Party’s association of pensioners.

The Nationalist Party paid tribute to Messina Ferrante, saying that he had given a great contribution in the fields of dentistry, unionism, Local Councils and the Nationalist Party.

He was a founding member of the European Dentists Association, a teacher and examiner on dentistry. His work was recognized last year by the Dental Association of Malta.

He worked within the PN’s administrative and executive committees.

In 2012, he was awarded the National Order of Merit.

The PN thanked Herbert Messina Ferrante for his work in several areas as well as within the party.

 

The Labour Party remembered Messina Ferrante for his contribution to society, describing him as an example of how citizens can be active for the benefit of the community.