Denis Doss (in batik shirt) inspecting the Honour Guard at St John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Benedict Morais
Denis and I were colleagues at La Salle Brickfields secondary school for a few years. During that time, we met often for social activities. He quickly stood out for his musical talent, infectious humour and sportsmanship.
In the early 1970s, non-Malay teachers were required to attend intensive Bahasa Malaysia classes to prepare for the switch from the English to Bahasa Malaysia medium. Denis and I were assigned to the Teacher Training College in Johor Baru, and I decided to drive us there in my newly acquired car.
Denis asked if he could join me on this journey to Johor in early 1973, and I gladly agreed. We set off from Petaling Jaya one fine morning at around 8:30am, expecting to reach JB in about four-and-a-half hours, with a brief rest stop along the way.
The drive was enjoyable, filled with conversation and the music of Jim Reeves, Connie Francis, Cliff Richard, and others, from the cassette player. However, as we neared Yong Peng in Johor, it began to drizzle. The rain made the winding road, which sloped on one side, quite slippery. Suddenly, the tyres lost their grip, and the car spun out of control, overturning three times into a shallow roadside shoulder. Thankfully, there was no oncoming traffic.
Miraculously, neither Denis nor I were injured. We remained calm, and both of us uttered a prayer during the car's somersaults. Dazed but unscathed, we managed to climb out through a window. With the help of some villagers, we were able to right the car. Amazingly, the rear windscreen, which had come off completely, was lying on the ground undamaged. We placed it on the rear seat and, after ensuring the engine was still functional, continued our journey to JB. We arrived safely and parked at the college. The next morning, we sent the car for repairs.
Later, in the late 1970s, I had to drive to Penang to assist my father, Victor Morais, in distributing his biennial publication, Who’s Who In Malaysia. I sought Denis’s help, and he readily agreed. The drive from PJ to George Town was long and exhausting – over 600km, with no North-South Highway and no air conditioning in the car.
In George Town, we spent three days delivering books to bookshops and customers. Navigating the city to find addresses and deliver orders was no easy task, but Denis and I took turns driving and made it work. We stayed at a college mate’s family home on Kelawai Road and enjoyed sampling the famous hawker fare along Gurney Drive in the evenings. It was a memorable experience working with Denis.
Before joining La Salle Brickfields, Denis had served as a La Salle Brother, known as Brother Christopher, at St Francis' Institution in Melaka and later at St George’s Institution in Taiping, Perak. Some of his earlier students remember him as Brother Christopher, while his later students knew him as Master Denis Doss, the beloved teacher and bandmaster at St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur.
Denis was always a true La Sallian at heart, even after leaving the brotherhood. He took on the responsibility of caring for his ageing father and his medically challenged younger sister, all while managing household chores and supporting his family on a teacher’s modest salary.
When Denis moved to St John’s Institution, our friendship continued, though we met less frequently due to our growing responsibilities. After retirement, our meetings became even rarer.Denis’s dedication extended beyond teaching. He was an active member of the Selangor and Federal Territory Eurasian Association (Saftea), participated in three choirs, and volunteered at the Soup Kitchen at Assumption Church in PJ. He also took up golf and tennis.
Many saw Denis as a happy-go-lucky chap, but few realised the challenges he faced. He used humour, jokes and music to mask his struggles, handling his difficulties with quiet dignity.In his later years, Denis faced severe health issues. He was diagnosed with diabetes, and his condition became critical, leading doctors to recommend the amputation of both legs above the knees. Initially, Denis resisted, but he eventually agreed to the procedure. Despite these hardships, Denis remained resilient.
Denis passed away in early July, after spending some time in a nursing home in PJ. His wife, Gail, had passed away earlier after battling two successive bouts of cancer. The couple had no children.I was among the few hundred people who attended Denis Doss’s funeral service at Assumption Church on Friday morning, July 12, 2024. He was accorded an impressive send-off with two bagpipers from St John’s ensuring a tearful departure from the church after the service.Denis Doss gave freely of his time, talents and efforts to so many worthy causes. Thus it was only fitting for him to have had a fond and impressive farewell.
