So sad to hear of Dr James passing. I remember him well from his time in Melbourne, when he was here supporting wife Alice who came over for her Pacemaker surgery. We shared a ward in the Alfred Hospital and had many laughsl. I kept in touch with them for a while but eventually lost touch.  Regretfully I never got to visit them but I do continue to have fond memories of both Dr James & Alice. 

I don't  know  you...but you was born in Ayer Tawar. We feel proud  of you. Hope one day your great grand generation will back to Ayer  Tawar to have look ! 

AyetTawarian

How do you say goodbye to someone who has not only been a major a part of your life but has been there all 66 years of your life?

       When I heard the very sad news that Tua Ku had passed away at the ripe old age of 97, I knew at once that I had to come and spend time with him and at least,touch him one last time.  It meant cancelling my commitment to the patients in Bangladesh, after being there for just half a day and flying nonstop from Chittagon to Dhaka, then Singapore and catching the immediate flight to  Vancouver  via Narita and Los Angeles. It was then 2pm in Chittagon on a Thursday, not long after I receive news of his demise, when I started the journey (1am in Vancouver on a Thursday). I arrived in Vancouver on Friday at 8pm, after being in flight for 43 hours. I had to do this for Tua Ku who despite his onerous responsibilities throughout his wonderful and rich life, had always the time for me.

       I would have missed that opportunity and been heartbroken had John not specially arranged my appointment with Tua Ku at noon on Sunday almost 2 weeks before the memorial service. I was told that this was not done or very seldom done in Canada. As it were I was able to spend 5 to 10 minutes of precious moments with Tua Ku praying and recalling the precious memories that he had shared with me. I was able to touch his head briefly, which shocked me a little as it was cold, quite unlike the warm handshakes and Long tight hugs I was used to. I was able to say goodbye and thank him for his time and love not only for me, but for immediate family, extended family and those fortunate to be close or just next to him.

   A Godly man
       Tua Ku was a Godly and God fearing man. He learned this and followed the example of my Grandfather, Ah Kong who was a Methodist pastor. But I think it was my Grandmother Ah Mah whom he inherited the love and self sacrificing care and concern for those around him.  I too was fortunate to have had experienced that love that my grandma gave without question and so can understand why he had such a generous heart. During this stay I was fortunate that John had the time to bring me to Tua Ku's apartment which he stayed for the latter part of his independent life. (He stayed the last 4 years in a nursing home). It was in this  apartment that stored his treasure of memories and life journey. There were countless number of bibles and his hand written account of his daily reading and walk with God. One small little bible caught my eyes. There was a small note clip to it and on it was written in his own hand writing a reference to a verse in the book of Luke chapter 6 verses 43-45:  It was about "A Tree and its Fruit". 43: For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  44: For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, Nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh.  Tua Ku was a good tree and a good man. He was a good son and looked after both his parents, our grandparents for as long  as I know . He looked after them when both were bedridden with stroke at different times. He looked after them till they passed away.
 
   A wonderful Family man
       Tua Ku was the eldest male in the family of 5 children. My Mother was the eldest of them all. He was the galvanising force that brought all 5 together throughout until their dying days. He survived all of them.   My impression of family then, was Ah Kong and Ah Ma, our grandparents, their children and their children's children. And Tua Ku was the leader of the pack.  That has been largely true even till today.  Such was his charisma and warmth, that he was able to create an environment that the children, the cousins remain close till today.

       It was again in our recent visit to his apartment in Surrey, that we discovered a tape recorded 20 years ago the support he was giving Chee Hoon and Chee Lian when their father (Tua Ku's youngest brother) Jin Soong passed away in New York. In that tape was also his second brother's voice. It was obvious how close they were.
      
    My uncle, Tua Ku.
     There are many things that I can recollect of Tua Ku. In my early years before John was born and when he had a very busy family practice in Jalan Besar Singapore

 He would bring me for a haircut, almost regular to a fault despite the fact that he had very long hours in his family practice, a Rotarian, a toastmaster, a free masons and a politician in Singapore. My childhood days were filled with sunfilled , fun Sundays in his bungalow beside the Changi beach in Singapore. I remember the days when he would bring me to watch a wrestling champion by the name of King Kong who was his patient.  I remember the times I would watch that champion from a distance and near and be awed by the size of this man and how fortunate that I could see him from so near a distance because of Tua Ku. 

As a medical student, I was fortunate to have an uncle who would go through my test papers question by question and was truly interested in how I had answered them.  I never knew how tough it must have been for him after a hard day's work, till I tried to do the same for my son when he was a medical student. I never go through the first question with him.

Tua Ku was a true gentleman. At night when he followed the car infront of him, he would always use only the small lights so that the glare would not disturb the driver ahead.  He would always drive behind the car driven by anyone else in the family. He would always send guest and relatives even those a generation below to the gate and wait patiently till you have driven off.  He never had a harsh work for anyone. In fact, he was the most caring person that I have ever met.  Even close to 90 years of age he would singularly drive and distribute meals to elderly folks, many of whom were years younger than him. 

I will always remember Tua Ku each time I look at myself in the mirror. Because as playful 5 year old, I had one day started chasing a family Alsatian dog which was on a leash.  I tripped on the leash and fell face down against its drinking bowl which was a tin with a sharp edge. I promptly split my right upper lip. Fortunately, Tua Ku was ready in his clinic to stitch me up. You can imagine how difficult a task it must be for him to do this for a struggling 5 year old kid.  Yet till today, only when my plastic surgical colleague takes a good look, would they then be able to see the scar on my lip.  And they would pass one of the best compliments by asking me who had managed my cleft lip ( a congenital condition.  Little did they know who the skilful surgeon was and how badly my lip had been cut up. 

But I will know, each time I wash my face in the morning, how fortunate, I was to have known and lived with a person like Tua Ku.   Good bye my dearest Tua Ku, I will miss you deeply. 

Keng.

Dearest John and family
Once again, our deepest condolences on the passing of your Dad and our Tua Ku.
We take comfort that he had lived a good and rich life and is now re-united with some of our loved ones in Heaven, and resting in the arms of Jesus.

Tua Ku formed such a large part of our life when we were growing up in Dunsfold Drive and Braemar Drive. He was our "family doctor" and helped our parents with our upbringing, both financially and spiritually. I don't think I have come across a more gentle and congenial person. I have never heard a cross word from him.
In the past 2 decades or so, whenever we met in Vancouver, he had been most hospitable, always concern about our wellbeing and comfort. In his visits to Singapore, he delighted in getting to know our children and made a point to remember their names and interests during the  short time we had together. He had a genuine interest in whatever we were doing.
He was a most generous and humble man. We will miss him.

And Giri has this tribute....
"Tua Ku was the best example of a gentleman's gentleman. He was very humble, in spite of his intellect and achievements in life. I enjoyed listening to him as he shared his experiences with us, while at the same time having a keen interest in what I was doing.
I will miss him. I still smile when I remember him how he would always greet me with a very warm and endearing "giiii-riiii". His immaculate dressing with a hat, jacket and walking stick is a picture of how gentlemen presented themselves in the public in a past era."

And from Sunita.....
"I'm saddened to hear about Tua Ku Kong's passing. I remember what a gentleman he was. His manners were impeccable and he had the most genial and kind nature. He was a very well-read man, with a most fantastic manuscript handwriting."

May God bless you with His love and peace always.

Love,
Gek and family

Thinking of you my Dear Uncle Yau. A life's work well done.

You take care John. Our thoughts are with you.

OBITUARY

Dr. James Jin Yau Yap

August 27, 1918 – September 30, 2015

Ocean View Funeral Home & Burial Park

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