At 87 years old, Richard Gatt sits peacefully in his room at Villa Messina, a facility operated by CareMalta, where he reminds us that Father's Day isn't just a date on the calendar. It's a celebration of wisdom, love, and the quiet strength that only years and a lifetime of fatherhood can teach.
A retired electrical fitter with the Malta Drydocks, Richard spent most of his working life aboard tankers and cargo ships, handling switchboards and heavy machinery. "Work was joy back then," he recalls, "it gave me purpose." His dedication was more than professional-it was part of who he was. Tireless, focused, and always determined to provide a better life for his family.
Richard, a soft-spoken gentleman, now calls Villa Messina home. It became a new beginning after the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife, Mary. "It gave me a new sense of belonging," he says, his voice gentle but steady. His eyes light up when he speaks of his children- Mr. Raymond Gatt, Alessio Gatt and Phyllis Micallef-who visit regularly, along with his cherished nephews.
Being a father means just as much to him today as it did the day he held his first child in his arms. Richard and Mary married young-he was 21, and Mary was 20. They spent their first months of marriage in Fgura, before returning to their roots in Marsa. It was there that their journey as parents truly began.
"The arrival of our first child changed everything," Richard recalls, "but it gave our lives meaning. They never gave us a moment's worry." Together, he and Mary raised three children with values rooted in respect, discipline, and compassion. "Mary was the strong hand, especially when it came to school matters," he says with a smile. "But we always taught them to be kind, helpful, and fair."
Education held a special place in the Gatt household. All three children attended M.U.S.E.U.M in Marsa. "We gave them what we had - our time, our values, and each other".
Though Mary is no longer by his side, Richard says he still feels her love every day. "I miss her so much," he says softly. "But I see her in our children. That's how I know she's still with me."
Richard shares a simple but powerful message for today's fathers, that is, to cherish their children and instill in them strong values that will guide them even when life gets hard. "It's easy to navigate through life when everything is going well," he says, "but real strength comes when you face challenges, overcome them, and become a better person", concludes Richard.
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