The late Chevalier Reginald Saviour Richard Attard, the Grand Vicar and President of the Supreme Council of the illustrious chivalric Order of St Lazarus, the Grand Chancellor and Vice Commander of the Commandery of the Castello (ret.) of the same illustrious Order, Knight Grand Cross of Grace with Collar, Knight of Merit, Knight of the illustrious Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Holder of the African Star Medal and The Second World War Campaign (1939-1945) Medal, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, National Guard of Alabama, USA, holder of several other decorations and qualifications among which: FIA, CPA, FAIA, MBIM, M.Inst.AM, MMIM, CSA. Born 12 January 1925. Passed away 15 July 2006.
The 15 July 2007 marked the first anniversary of this well-known philanthropist’s demise. It is worth mentioning that he was an active member of the Lion’s Club (Malta) and the Casino Maltese. He joined the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, Obedience of Malta, in 1973, where the 47th Grand Master, Don Francisco de Borbon y de Borbon, soon appointed him a member of the Supreme Council and the Grand Chancellor. At this time he was also acting as the Vice Commander of the Commandery of the Castello. Chevalier Reginald served the Order for more than three decades, during which time he earned recognition for many merits. He reorganised the Order’s Malta Obedience and increased the few active members of approximately 500 at the time to a membership exceeding 4,000 and a further 1,500 volunteer workers. The administration of the work and affairs were co-ordinated in Malta by this gentleman and his very efficient office staff. The philanthropic work done through this unit was indeed most impressive. To mention a few of these charitable works, one might cite the establishment of the centre for assistance to immigrants, as well as the Foundation for the Psychological and Social Attention of Abandoned Persons in Spain.
The beneficiaries of such philanthropic munificence are quite evident in Germany, Austria, the United States, Finland, New Caledonia (Pacific Islands), England, Malta, Kenya and Tanga, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Poland. Chevalier Reginald was instrumental in the provision of the above charitable works under the auspices of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, the Malta Obedience, he also assisted in bringing about the recognition, by the European Community, of the Order of St Lazarus as an International Organisation for humanitarian purposes.
In 1998, the Grand Master of the Malta Obedience, HRH Don Francisco de Borbon y de Escasany, the Duke of Seville, awarded this worthy knight with a special medal “For Loyalty”, (which has been awarded to a very select few) in recognition of his impressive philanthropic contribution on behalf of the Order of St Lazarus (Malta Obedience) towards humanity. He furthermore strove to bring about the Unity of the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem through the fullfilment of its Christian spirit and its ecumenical conventions. This appreciation is a gleaning in synopsis of whatever was just and noteworthy in this perfect gentleman, so that it may be recorded for our successors, that it would also serve as a personal reflection for others to emulate: he strove for his ideals and did his utmost to live up to them. His consolidation and development of charitable works made him the epitome of a knight steeped in prayer and action, in other words, a worthy knight of the Order of St Lazarus.
It would be greatly appreciated if the members of the Order would promise to conduct its administration according to his wonderful example and in his spirit: we will always remember our deceased Brother in our prayers.
Our sincerest condolences are being conveyed to his beloved wife, Dame Lilian, to his seven children, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as to all his Brethren and friends.
May he rest in peace.
Bernard Lipari