Filoimea Telito

Sir Filoimea Telito GCMG MBE (19 March 1945 – 11 July 2011)^[3] was a political and religious figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.^[4] He was born on Vaitupu where he attended Elisefou (New Ellice) primary school. He later attended King George V Secondary School in Tarawa, Kiribati.^[4]

His Excellency The Reverend Sir Filoimea Telito GCMG MBE
Telito in 2006
8th Governor-General of Tuvalu
In office 15 April 2005 – 19 March 2010
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Maatia Toafa Apisai Ielemia
Preceded by	Faimalaga Luka
Succeeded by	Sir Kamuta Latasi (acting)
Personal details
Born	(1945-03-19)19 March 1945 Vaitupu, Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu)[1]
Died	11 July 2011(2011-07-11) (aged 66)[2]
Spouse	Pepapeti Telito

Background

He served as principal of the Motufoua Secondary School on Vaitupu island, and was a pastor in the Church of Tuvalu (Ekalesia Klisiano Tuvalu), of which he eventually became the president, a position which he held until his death.^[2] In the 1997 New Year Honours, Telito was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for "community and public services, especially to education."^[5]

Governor-General of Tuvalu

On 15 April 2005 he took office as Governor-General of Tuvalu^[6] as the representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Tuvalu. He stepped down in 2010.^[7] In January 2007, Telito was made a Knight Grand Cross of Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) by Queen Elizabeth II.^[3] Herewith he resumed the practice by Governors-General of Tuvalu of accepting a knighthood, a practice discontinued on a personal basis by his predecessor to that office, Faimalaga Luka.

Death

He died on 11 July 2011 of a heart attack, and was buried in Funafuti three days later. All government activity ceased on the day of the funeral, in a sign of respect.^[2][4]