Friday will be 14 March 2014, and that day will mark the passing of one Malta’s true gents – Gozitan ophthalmologist, philanthropist, Army man, minister, father, husband, great grandfather and last, but not least, President Emeritus. He died aged 98 in 2012.

Dr Tabone was an exceptional man. No one had a bad word to say about him. In his 90’s, he was the elderly gent who was still in touch with the pace of life – learning how to use a computer and printer. He was also known as the fun loving man who only a few years earlier was snapped in a photo enjoying life on a jetski in summer with his wife, even though they were both advanced in years.

The fourth President of Malta was born in 1913 and he followed in the footsteps of his father. During World War II, he served as a Regimental Medical Officer and general duty officer with the Royal Malta Artillery, and later as trainee ophthalmic specialist stationed at the Military Hospital, Mtarfa. In the early days of the War, he narrowly escaped with his life when a bomb fell at Fort Saint Elmo, demolishing a substantial part of the army barracks to which he had been posted.

In 1948, Tabone was entrusted with the supervision of a campaign to treat trachoma and the disease was virtually eliminated from Gozo. He helped launch similar campaigns in Taiwan, Indonesia and Iraq under the auspices of the World Health Organization.

His political career with the PN began in 1961 and he served as secretary general and deputy leader. He held various government ministerial posts and presented two motions to the United Nations – one calling for an action plan for the world’s ageing population and another calling for the world’s climate to be declared the common heritage of mankind. The first was presented in 1968 and the second in 1988. Both of the issues are – in our time – at the top of the world’s agenda and this shows just what a visionary the Gozo ophthalmologist was.

Malta has missed men of his ilk – he really was something to behold, and this is why Malta will be dedicating a monument to his legacy. The statue will show a friendly Dr Tabone with his hand raised and with a gentle smile on his face – the very epitome of what he was.

The raised hand symbolises his profession as an eye specialist and recalls that he was instrumental in the canonisation of  Dun Gorg Preca as Malta’s first saint. It is truly fitting that we honour this very special son of Malta. You don’t often find his type – he should be remembered.