Chapter 25: Remembering My High School Chemistry Teacher

Recently, I received a parcel from North Carolina, USA, sent by my former high school Math teacher, Edward Greenawald. Inside was a treasure - a large collection of black-and-white photographs taken during the 1960s, when he was teaching at Lok Yuk English Secondary School in Jesselton. Now in his seventies and still single, Edward probably decided to entrust me with the entire collection for safekeeping.

Among the photographs, one snapshot caught my eye. It was taken in the staff room, most likely around 1966, and in it I recognized my former Chemistry teacher, Mr. Chuah Eng Wah, who sadly passed away late last year.

News of his passing came as a surprise, though not entirely unexpected. I had last met him less than two years earlier, and at the time he appeared fit and healthy. It was only when I paid my final respects to his remains on 29.11.2016 at the funeral parlor that I learned of his long battle with prostate cancer, which had been diagnosed some five years earlier.

Back in our school days, he was always fondly addressed as “Mr. Chuah,” a title we continued to use even in later years, as we regarded him as our teacher for life. Mr. Chuah was not considered an outstanding teacher in the conventional sense. Having graduated from Taiwan, he spoke English with a distinct accent typical of Taiwanese-educated graduates. One of his most memorable classroom expressions was the phrase “Yes Not” - his way of seeking confirmation from students, a literal translation of the Chinese phrase "是不是?" While his English proficiency may not have been strong, he more than made up for it with his dedication, hard work, and kindness toward his students.

Teaching Staff of Lok Yuk Secondary School Likas 1966.
3rd from right is Chuah Eng Wah

Another photo taken at the staff room in 1966. Mr. Chuah is second

from right. Mr. Lo Vun Nyen at right was my Chinese teacher.

Mr. Tsen, 3rd from right was my Health Science teacher.

Teaching Staff of Lok Yuk Secondary School Likas 1969.
Back row 4th from right is Chuah Eng Wah

With eldest daughter of Chuah Eng Wah, Chuah Yuan San
taken on 29 Nov 2016 at the funeral parlour.

He was both my Form Teacher and Chemistry Teacher in Form 4 in 1968. I still have in my possession the Form 4 Report Card with the marks of the numerous subjects personally entered by him. Other than Chemistry, I was not considered good at most of the other subjects. I barely scrapped through my English and failed once in my Physics. But by God's grace, I passed my A Level and graduated later on as a Civil Engineer. In a way, the subject of Chemistry did have a bearing on my choice in pursuing an engineering degree eventually.