Appreciation: Alan Journo
A bon vivant, culinary enthusiast and music connoisseur who loved people and Sannat
During the many years I have known Alan, I was always deeply struck by his positivity and joie de vivre. A bon vivant, a culinary enthusiast and a lover of all things beautiful.
When in Gozo or Milan, Alan never stopped enjoying himself. He was known and appreciated by all, especially at Gleneages, his favourite meeting place. He was vivacious, exuberant and zestful. A lover of parties, convivial, friendly and warm. I always looked forward to being in his company.
I was particularly struck by his generosity, inviting friends regularly to his beautiful home in Sannat, where he would personally prepare delicious pasta dishes for numerous local and foreign guests.
He would visit Gozo yearly for his summer holidays, arriving on the eve of the Santa Margerita feast at Sannat. He would talk to feast-goers, who inevitably recognised him, ever dressed in white with his stylish heart-framed glasses and his curly ponytail.
Alan stood out at any event with his warm personality and interesting conversations. He cared for people. He was a people’s man.
On his visits to his beloved Gozo, Alan, a foodie, would talk about all the new restaurants and cafés that would have opened. He would have discovered them even before many of us regular visitors. He would tell his friends which restaurants served good food and were worth visiting in Gozo and, of course, in Milan and Rome.
Alan was a music connoisseur, well connected in the music and artistic world, knowing many renowned musicians personally.
He followed events in Malta and Gozo with a passion. Alan was no ordinary person, he was a great personality. He was a world citizen.
To Michela, his wife, go my heartfelt condolences. I will miss him. Josianne and I will miss the many enjoyable dinners we all spent together, both in Gozo and Milan.
Ciao Alan, mi dispiace tanto. Riposa in pace.