GEORGE TOWN: After a long and fruitful life, former La Salle educator John Cyril Conceicao passed away on Tuesday (June 6). He was 91.
A pillar of the local Catholic community and a noted English teacher and tutor, Conceicao was born in Singapore and grew up in Melaka.
He later enrolled in St Joseph’s Novitiate in Pulau Tikus in Penang and attended the teachers’ training college there at the age of 22.
He served in several La Salle schools during his tenure with the brotherhood, including a stint as headmaster of La Salle School, which has since been rebuilt and renamed SK St Xavier’s.
After officially retiring from government school teaching in 1986, the sea-loving Eurasian tutored English part-time and invigilated exams for the British Council Penang.
He also taught catechism at what is now the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (CHS), Penang.
In 2012, Conceicao suffered a stroke.
He recovered and regained his mobility but the incident affected his memory and contributed to his challenges with dementia, which grew increasingly severe in the last couple years.
Nevertheless, the former teacher, headmaster, godfather and friend will always be remembered for his quick wit, his fondness to talk with his hands and the ever-present twinkle in his eye.
His wake is being held at CHS until the funeral mass, which is scheduled for 11am on Friday(June 9).
Prayers will be held at the wake at 8pm on both June 7 and 8.
