Fr Mark Montebello OP writes...
The death of Luke V. Gauci on December 10 at the venerable of age 98 has deprived the locality of Pietà-Guardamangia of one of its most revered citizens.
Born on July 17, 1914, in Guardamangia, where he lived all his life, Is-Sur Luqa, as he was affectionately called by one and all, had always been part of the religious, social and civil life of the locality. Many will remember him always as a great benefactor.
Is-Sur Luqa, son of Salvatore Gauci and Giuseppina née Brincat, was an industrialist and one of the co-founders of the Federation of Industry. He studied at the Lyceum, at St Aloysius College and at the Institute of Food Science & Technology of London. He was manager of GTV Chocolate and Candy Manufacturing Co. (1933), chairman and managing director of Wembley Ice Cream Factory Ltd. (since 1937) and also chairman and managing director of a number of companies, including Luke V. Gauci Imports & Exports, Marina Hotel Co. Ltd., Plastifoam Ltd and Valletta Travel Ltd.
In 1937, is-Sur Luqa introduced pasteurized and pre-packed ice-cream in Malta under the brand name of Wembleys.
In 1971, he co-founded the FOI, of which he was president until 1976. In the meantime, he was also president of the Trade Fair Corporation (1973) and a member of a number of various wages councils, of the Mcast board of governors, of the Ice Cream Alliance of Derby (UK) and of the World War II Communal Feeding Depart-ment. He was also part of the Institute of Directors of Lions Club International and member of the Union Club and The Lansdowne Club of London.
In 1998, is-Sur Luqa was a worthy recipient of the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika conferred on him by President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
A firm and committed Christian, apart from his distinguished work in industry, is-Sur Luqa was quietly a great benefactor to many a noble cause. One of these, just to mention a single example out of many, was to Mgr Philip Calleja’s remarkable work at the Emigrants’ Commission, which is-Sur Luqa admired enormously.
Nonetheless, is-Sur Luqa’s greatest contribution was to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima and the Dominican convent, at Pietà-Guardamangia. His name and memory will forever remain linked to this place of worship and pastoral care.
In fact, is-Sur Luqa’s family had been involved in the foundation and building of the Fatima sanctuary since the mid-1940s. It was his brother, Fr Joseph Gauci OP, Provincial of the Dominicans in Malta, who first dreamed of such a foundation. Later, is-Sur Luqa was continually by the side of Fr Esmond Klimeck OP, a New Zealander of Polish descent, while the sanctuary, and its adjoining Dominican priory, was build and adorned. Is-Sur Luqa had then been a great and loyal benefactor of the whole religious and pastoral project at Pietà-Guardamangia ever since.
Though is-Sur Luqa had been confined to his residence for the last two years of his life, his bright and breezy character was never diminished, supporting in whatever way he could every worthy cause that caught his imagination. In healthier days, his love of travelling, fishing, photography, and gardening verged on the passionate. He fervently loved his country, and, likewise, the Blessed Virgin of Fatima, who, now, receives him for his eternal reward.
Is-Sur Luqa will be direly missed by family and friends and especially by the Dominican community in Malta.