Dear Mr. Lee Hah Ing, Sir.
You were a teacher par excellence.
You were everything that a certain teacher,
famous for his slapping, was not.
I was deeply privileged to have come under your
wings in school. You guided us with a kind hand,
and whenever we became rowdy, you calmed us with
gentle words.
We all miss you, sir.
My condolences to Ping Wen and his siblings.
Albert Chan
**************
FAREWELL, MR. LEE!
Former
ACS Principal Mr. Lee Hah Ing passed away on 04 September 2009 at the
ripe age of 95. He left behind a family that stretched three
generations to mourn his passing.
Mr. Lee
was born on 3 August 1914 in Ping Hai, Fujian Province in China.
When he was five years old, he accompanied his parents to settle in
Kampong Koh, Sitiawan, a small town near Ipoh, where his father the
Rev. Lee Ko Ding was assigned as pastor of the Pioneer Methodist
Church.
After
completing his primary education in ACS Sitiawan, Mr. Lee went on to
ACS Ipoh where he obtained his Cambridge School certificate in 1930.
He was admitted to Raffles College, Singapore in 1931 and after
graduating with a Diploma in Arts in 1934, embarked on a teaching
career that spanned 34 years with the Methodist schools: ACS Teluk
Anson (now renamed Teluk Intan), (1934-1947), MBS Kuala Lumpur
(1948-1951) and ACS Singapore (1952-1969) where he served with
distinction as Principal from 1961 to 1969.
A keen
sportsman, Mr. Lee built up the ACS Singapore Hockey XI into a
successful team displaying high morale and sportsmanship and was
well-thought of as a teacher. As Principal, he is best remembered
for integrating the morning and afternoon sessions into one school,
and expanding the Pre-University Classes. He instituted the School
Prefects, re-introduced the daily devotions, and provided new
teaching and sporting facilities. Of these, the Nagle Library, the
Art Room, the Audio-Visual Room, and the Sports Complex which
boasted the first school Olympic-sized swimming pool in Singapore.
Closely related with his sporting interest, he forged closer ties
between ACS Singapore and the Methodist Schools in Malaysia by
organising and participating in several Festivals of Sports”.
According to Mr. Earnest Lau, former ACS Principal and currently the
Archivist of The Methodist Church in Singapore, “To help fund the
projects, Mr. Lee instituted a series of fun fairs, aptly named
Fun-O-Ramas that were memorable in rallying the students into
working together for the School and generating a special School
spirit, always reminding us that “The Best is Yet to Be”. In these
and other activities, he quietly set an example by giving of his
best to the School. For his services to education, he was awarded
the Public Service Star (BBM) in 1969”.
Delivering the eulogy at Mr. Lee’s funeral, former ACS Board of
Governors Chairman Mr. Tan Wah Thong described Mr. Lee, who was his
Senior Cambridge (now ‘O’ level) class master in 1956, as a model
teacher who possessed the exemplary art of treating and counselling
his wayward students. “I was one of them and lesser mortals would
have given up on me”, Mr. Tan confessed. “However, the patient Mr.
Lee took upon himself the onerous task to discipline and counsel me.
He persevered and kept his faith in me and I must admit he had
succeeded in touching and changing my life”.
After he
retired in 1969, Mr. Lee joined OCBC from 1970 to 1986 and was the
Advisor to The Tan Chin Tuan Foundation until 2006. Dr Tan Sri Tan
Chin Tuan’s generosity to the ACS family of schools is legendary,
and we can thank Mr. Lee for playing an unsung role. Even in
retirement, he took great interest in the affairs of the ACS family
of schools. He was indeed a pillar of strength and a great supporter
of the ACS Board of Governors, and also the Methodist Church in
Singapore.
Mr Lee
will be missed by many ACSians, young and old. He was a great
teacher, counsellor, motivator and friend all rolled into one.
Perhaps these moving words expressed by his former students from the
Class of 67/69 sums up what most of his former students regarded
him: “You were our principal. But you were always more than just the
head of the school we attended. To some, you were the father they
didn’t have. Or the father they would have wished for”.
Rest
well, Mr. Lee. We shall meet again on that beautiful shore.
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I am deeply saddened to learn of
the passing of our beloved teacher Lee Hah Ing. It was a great
privilege to be taught by him. He was a very kind, inspiring and
dedicated teacher!
My deepest condolences to Lee
Ping Wen and his family.
Warmest regards
Arthur Yap
Vancouver, Canada
**********
What a privilege it was for us
to meet him at our 50th Anniversary! RIP!
Norman Wee
**********
My deepest condolences to Lee
Ping Wen and family.
I remember Mr. Lee reading a
passage from the Straits Times reporting on the Robinsons’ fire,
and his highlighting the phrase "pockets of fire" were seen
billowing from the building. I still remember that phrase
although I have never used it then.
Regards,
Lim Chin Hock
**********
We are all very saddened by his
passing away, but at the same time we are fortunate to have
crossed his path and we have learnt much from him not only as a
teacher but as a good Christian man. Mr Lee Hah Ing was not only
a teacher but was also a gentleman teacher. I am sure we ACSians
of Year 1957 will always remember him as a conscientious and
dedicated teacher. Mr Lee was indeed a great teacher and mentor
to many of us. He has inspired me to be a teacher. I shall
always remember him.
Please convey my condolence to
his family members.
Regards
Hai Chiew
**********
My thoughts and prayers go out
to Ping Wen and his family.
Mr Lee Hah Ing was a kind and
good teacher. It was a privilege to have him at our 50th
Anniversary Dinner of Class57.
"In Thy presence there is
fulness of joy.. " Psalm 16:11b
Ho Chee Meng
London, England
**********
Like the true blue ACSians that
we are, we all hold our teachers in high esteem and remember
them fondly. And our dearly departed Mr. Lee Hah Ing ranks as
one of the highest in this exalted circle.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Mr.
Lee's family, and to ourselves, in having just lost a beloved
member of our ACS family.
In everlasting memory of our
dear Mr. Lee, ACS Forever! And may he ever rest in peace in
God's heavenly kingdom.
Yen Park
**********
Dear Ping Wen,
Very sorry to hear about your
Dad. Many of us in the “57 class will miss him very much. More
than half a century has passed, but his friendly, engaging
manner and his captivating teaching style have been firmly
etched in our minds. Without a doubt, he was a great ACS teacher
and principal. While we mourn his passing, we thank God for his
rich and blessed life.
Regards,
Tiang Keng
**********
Dear Ping Wen,
I am saddened to learn of the
passing of your father. Lee Hah Ing was a great teacher, mentor,
counselor, and a parker gentleman. I had the fortune and
privilege of having him as my teacher in secondary school as
well as in Pre U. He was also the soccer master when I was the
school captain.
Lee Hah Ing was for me a great
motivator who had the faith in a boy who spent more time out of
class than in class. His faith in me and the confidence he
showed in my ability to excel was an inspiration to me and
helped me work towards achieving my potential. I owe a great
deal to this great man. We must thank the Lord for His Blessings
in enriching our lives through the life of Lee Hah Ing.
Please accept my sincere
condolences for this loss to you and your family.
Blessings,
Winston Choo
**********
Hi Ping Wen,
I am indeed saddened to hear of
your dad passing away. He was indeed a great and kind teacher
especially remembered for having taught the class of 9C. It was
indeed a privilege and an honour to have met him at our 50th
reunion and he will be long remembered. My condolences go to you
and family
Kind regards & take care -
Albert Lee SG |