A TOUGH-TALKING journalist with a heart of gold left for his next journey on Thursday, after battling well but in the end, breathed his last at the age of 77.
It was something expected of Maurice de Rozario (pic) and his old school buddies at the New Straits Times, as mincing words while chasing a tight print deadline was unheard of.
And he had the added edge of being a former soldier who was equally mean in the boxing ring as well.
For decades, after the former Army boxer had opted out early, his job was to punch out mistakes and typos.
Like all senior journalists, Maurice, a former sports sub-editor, never kept anything in his heart even after reprimanding reporters.
Born and schooled in Brickfields, his house, where he grew up, was located on Ang Seng Lorong Dua near Jalan Rozario.
But if you happened to mention Jalan Rozario during one of the sports desk's gatherings, he would retort... "not my father's road, but I did fool some classmates!"
Former NST Sports Editor Datuk Lazarus Rokk remembers his no-nonsense approach, as well as his Italian Tiamo (I love you) side.
"I grew up with Maurice in the same neighbourhood in Brickfields. He lived just four doors away from us.
"My interaction with Maurice began when he joined the NST Sports Desk as a horse racing writer under the pseudonym, Tiamo.
"When he completed his stint on horse racing, Maurice was handling the foreign news section of the desk.
"And when I took over as sports editor, Maurice was already an accomplished de facto foreign sports news editor."
Maurice turned up in the office before noon every day, three hours before the others did on our desk, and went through all the foreign stories from various news agencies.
"He had the liberty to select the foreign sports stories.
"He was alert and always on top of the game," Rokk added.
Another former Sports Editor, Vijesh Rai, said: "Maurice, on the exterior, always had a gruff look, but he was a boon to both reporters and sub-editors.
"He would always ensure those who failed to meet his standards got an earful, but it was always to improve them, and they did.
"He was a mentor to many, and in the nearly 20 years of being colleagues, I never stopped learning from him."
Maurice worked under many sports editors on his long-serving stint, and Chan Wai Kong was one of them.
"Former soldier Maurice was tough-talking and yet disarmingly polite.
"He could shoot straight, talk straight and in the world of journalism, Maurice found that firing out punchy words and meeting deadlines were more exciting than holding a rifle," said Wai Kong.
Current Sports Editor Ajitpal Singh Dhaliwal also remembers his hard and gentle side.
"He was generous in imparting knowledge, strict but kind and fun to be around.
"He was the perfect blend of hard and gentle, challenging and supportive.
"Like so many whom he inspired, I am devastated and condolences to his family and all those who loved him," said Ajitpal.
Former NST production editor (Life & Times) Fong Leong Ming said: "The sports desk used to be next to Life & Times, and Maurice would order sandwiches and tea almost daily for his guys and invite us subs to join in too.
"That's how generous and open-hearted he was.
"Always had a warm smile for everyone."
"Farewell, buddy on your next journey.
"Hope you have a light peg of whisky with no ice in hand and easy music to accompany you.
Maurice's funeral mass will be held be at the Church of St Thomas More in Subang Jaya today, followed by final rites and cremation at the MBPJ Crematorium in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya.
Arrivederci, Mr Tiamo.
