The C.E.O. of Computer Services Limited, Tuipoloa Manusamoa Anthony (Tony) Saaga has passed away with Government leaders and ICT  representatives describing him as a pioneer in his field.

Tuipoloa died last Thursday. He was aged 56 and is survived by his wife Gaualofa Penny Matalavea and two children, Antonia Sose Tautiapagofie and Anthony Falete'etasiosimailemavaa Saaga. 

His funeral service was held at the All Saints Anglican Church in Leifiifi on Monday morning and he was buried at his family home in Malua. His funeral was attended by his family, friends, and Government officials as well as public and private sector leaders, including the Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, Digicel Samoa Ltd Chairman, Pepe Christian Fruean and Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa. 

Close family and friends spoke highly of the late bureaucrat in their eulogies with many saying he was a man of integrity and worked with diligence and humility. 

Pepe recalled their younger days and his older brother Raymond Fruean and how they were good friends.

"I knew Tony who was friends with my older brother Ray, they had a group called Stone Free,” Pepe said.  

“They were close like brothers, Ray was quiet and followed whatever Tony did. 

"I also looked up to him like an older brother as when my brother Ray passed, Tony, his friend, became my brother.” 

The Clinical Director of the National Kidney Foundation of Samoa also spoke highly of Tuipoloa and recalled the wedding day of the late C.E.O. with his wife Gaualaofa in 1991.

"On 6th December 1991 strong winds blew. It was Cyclone Val, we had an open ward for diabetic patients because of the stench of operated limbs, but on that day the power went off," he said.

"We did the wedding here at the church then for the reception we went to Malua but the wind was still blowing. 

“We did it with candles because the power was off. When we returned to our homes in Apia we couldn't sleep in them because of the cyclone.

“Tony loved our parents. He also loved music. He had a classic taste in things he was passionate about. 

“I think he must have been well loved because of his classical characteristics.” 

Tuipoloa's pioneering influence in Samoa’s telecommunications sector and the development of the Samoa Information Technology Association (S.I.T.A.) was brought to light by Mailo Henry Mailo and colleagues from the association.

"He had a great sense of humour. He was a pillar of our association, we asked Tony to help us and he did, he was also very professional in his line of work," she said.

"He used to be my boss for seven to eight years at my job. He's passionate about ICT in Samoa and the region.”

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology C.E.O. Fualau Talatalaga Mata'u Matafeo said he met Tuipoloa in 2015 on a trip to Korea and described the late pioneer as a “gift to this profession of telecommunications.”  

Looking back at the contributions of the late Tuipoloa during the term of the former Administration, Tuilaepa said his whole working life was dedicated to communications and its development in Samoa. 

“He has contributed a lot to the development of telecommunications in Samoa," he said. "Samoa is a leader in telecommunications. It's above others in the region. 

“He was one of the leaders of a high profile sector. I thank him for his special contributions to broadband.

"It enabled Samoa, especially Savai’i schools and the health sector to communicate across islands and beyond.

"They also developed our domain name. The domain name was developed by this man who just passed.”

Gaualofa Penny Matalavea Saaga, currently an Assistant C.E.O. with the Ministry of Health, also gave a heartwarming eulogy of her husband.

She read a poem she wrote with tears and said that nobody is ever prepared to lose a loved one so giving eulogies was not easy.

She also thanked all the dignitaries and families as well as friends who turned up to the last service for Tuipoloa.