Guzè Diacono dies

Guzè Diacono, playwright, critic, author, lexicographer and a former journalist with Allied Newspapers, died yesterday, a week before turning 90.

Born in Valletta, Diacono graduated as legal procurator from the university of Malta in 1938.

He joined Allied Newspapers that same year, working as sports editor of Il-Berqa until around 1953 and as features editor until the late 50s. He left Allied Newspapers in 1966.

Diacono served as Reuters correspondent between 1945 and 1947, was founder and editor of Il-Hajja (1965-67), advertising manager of Il-Haddiem (1966-69) and part-time lecturer in Maltese literature at the university.

A one-time council member of Akkademja tal-Malti, he was a member of the Commission for the Standardisation of Maltese.

Diacono's literary contributions include drama, short stories, critiques and translations.

His most famous work is the TV series Il-Madonna tac-Coqqa (1979), which he published in book form and adapted for the stage.

Diacono compiled five volumes of the Dizzjunarju Ingliz-Malti - an adapted and revised expansion of Dun Karm's dictionary.

In 1997, Diacono was made a member of the National Order of Merit by President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici for his contribution to society.

He married Mary Pace in 1950.