TRIBUTE TO DATUK STEPHEN FOO

Datuk Stephen Foo and I go a long way back as we were part of a badminton group and we used to meet once or twice a week.  Had many good discussions on many matters during the breaks.

When the idea was mooted to form the St. Paul’s Schools Alumni Association and I announced it in middle of 2008, I requested for his help in formulating the constitution of the Association. He readily agreed and we met at my house over many months to come up with the constitution.

His heart was fully into forming the Association.  I remember also going to see the Anglican Bishop then, Bishop Yong Ping Chung together with Datuk Stephen Foo to inform him on the formation of the Association.

His contribution towards designing the constitution was crucial to the Association being formed as there was no hitches when we presented it to the Registrar of Societies.

Truly a St.Paulian.

From:

Datuk Dr Allan Mathews, 

Charter Chairman/Advisor, St. Paul’s Schools Alumni Association.

 

 

TRIBUTE TO OUR LEGAL ADVISOR, THE LATE DATUK STEPHEN FOO

On the 3^rd of June 2021 at 1.48 PM, I received a text message from a  fellow St Paulian, informing me that Datuk Stephen Foo has passed on at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It was a sure reluctance to believe initially until the announcement came in from the family, several hours later confirming so. It was indeed a depressing mood to acknowledge that sad news. He demised at the age of 78 years old.

Datuk Foo who was one of the senior St Paulians especially with the Protem Chairman, Datuk Allan Mathews ( and together with few other seniors) was instrumental in setting up the St Paul’s Schools Alumni Association back in 2008. As a legal practitioner, he was the person who spent most time in scrutinizing the Association’s Constitution during the protem stage to ensure it was of best befitting the new association.

I began to get closer to Datuk Foo in 2012 as I was then elected as Asst Secretary. Together with the then secretary, the late Mr. Chan Kok Hwa, we used to consult Datuk Foo on various legal matters in regards to the association. When I took over the secretary post in 2016, the friendship became even closer. I have several opportunities meeting him at his office in Wisma Merdeka. Apart from the Association’s matters we would spent time chatting about the school, it’s history and also our hometown, Beaufort  back from the olden days. I always enjoyed the kind of untold stories he shared  during his youth days in Beaufort. 

I am very thankful to Datuk for his all-time passion on the Association’s well being. As an enthusiastic St Paulian and a responsible legal advisor, Datuk has never miss any of our AGMs except for the year 2020 (11^th AGM) owing to the severe pandemic affecting the State. He was always nominated as our Election Chairman during any election year to elect a new board.

We shall dearly miss his absence and of course his 13 years of contribution to the St Paul’s Schools Alumni Association, Beaufort, Sabah will always be remembered by the former and present Executive Committee Members.

Tony Lim - Chairman (2020/2022)

Group Photo taken during the 5th Grand Reunion Dinner - 2019
Datuk Stephen seated 3rd from right