Wednesday August 19, 2009
Renowned missionary dies at age 91
PETALING JAYA: Renowned teacher Datuk Brother Lawrence Spitzig has passed away at 4.45pm in Assunta Hospital here yesterday.
The 91-year-old wheelchair- bound retired teacher was the former Brother Director of St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur.
The Canadian, whose life had been greatly influenced by the La Salle Brothers’ commitment to education, left his hometown in Toronto in 1937 to become a missionary and teacher.
His first assignment was at St Joseph’s Institute in Singapore in 1938 at the age of 19, before he was transferred to St John’s during World War II in 1941 (1954-1960 and 1978-1983); St Xavier’s Institution Penang (1960-1967) and La Salle Petaling Jaya (1967-1974).
Brother Lawrence was teaching in SJI when the Japanese landed in Malaya. He was 20 years old then.
He was sent to Pudu Prison and later was a prisoner of war at Changi, Singapore during World War II.
He was conferred the Datukship award by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his service in February.
In 1954, he was made principal of St John’s, then at St Xavier’s before going to La Salle Petaling Jaya.
Before his death, Brother Lawrence was enjoying his retirement at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Cheras.
His wake will be at the SM St John’s, Jalan Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur from 9.30am onwards while his funeral mass will be held at the St John’s Cathedral at 10am tomorrow.
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