The Race is Run - Dedicated to Lee Cheong Hoh
Lee Cheong Hoh left us on the 26 January 2021. Most of us recognise the fighting spirit in him ever since he was a member of the Raffles Institution rugby team. When he left us in the late afternoon, he fought the fight against an aggressive cancer. We visited him in the hospital ward, in fact so many visited that Johnny Pang had to set up a visit roster wherein each of us would enter our names, like making an appointment for the visit. Some have to wait in line as during this Covid period the number of visitors were restricted to three at any one time. So many of us prayed and we kept passing notes to each other as we visited and kept a rotating vigil by his bedside
Why did so many come to see Cheong Hoh make his last journey, run his last race? Because he was a very good friend to us and in the last few years he was very active in all our class gatherings and meetings. We set up a chat group reminiscing about what he meant to us. All of us mentioned that Cheong Hoh was a generous man and a great and caring friend. We valued the times we met him at our class reunions.
Johnny Pang said that Cheong Hoh and Jaya Prakash were the ones who encouraged Johnny to organise the 1967/69 RI cohort's Big Bash in 2017 with the promise of sponsorship which took place at Carlton Hotel. Johnny added, "The departure of CH reminds us of our human frailty. So let us treasure every moment that we are alive. While we are still able to move around, let us continue to enjoy meeting up with one another over a meal or a drink."
He worked as a lawyer in MINDEF, a State Coroner, a Magistrate and a District Judge. Wang Swee Chuang commented that as a legal officer, he dealt with disciplinary cases and court martials.
But James Foo recalled that he was a mischievous boy in school making the title of this blog very apt, "I was asked by Deborah, CH's daughter whether her daddy was a naughty boy whilst lovingly touching his face. I had two choices, to tell a white lie or the truth. Knowing CH he would speak what's true and I told her we were all naughty boys back then. Deborah laughed and that brought a cheeky look in CH's eyes. She commented that was why CH could catch crooks as a magistrate."
Anthony Lim recalled that Cheong Hoh was the producer of the class play, "CH and I went to a particular girl's home to take her out for rehearsal. To our surprise, the girl's father came out. He asked CH to produce an agenda for the meeting. Cannot recall what came out of that encounter. And once CH was sent to the Science Lab for detention class and there he went about frolicking and mixing chemicals in the lab. Fortunately there was no explosion!"
James Foo sadly noted, "Ta Ker (big bro) we will miss you badly. You were the one that rounded us up for dinners, lunch or drinks and always, always paid and refused to take our portion of the bill. I asked you why you always do that and you smiled and said good food and drinks should be shared with friends. How do we pay you back? We will remember your deep friendship and keep you close to our hearts. RIP bro."
On 11 Dec 2020 at a small gathering Swee Chuang sang to Cheong Hoh 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.' Joo Huak said to him, " If the work load is heavy please let us know. Let’s help to lighten your work."
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there”
Teo Joo Huak carried the load. He was indefatigable in helping to settle Cheong Hoh's affairs and helping Wang Rong, CH's wife to care and manage the end stage of CH's life. Many others helped, including Chow Kah Kiong who got CH's doctors together to coordinate his treatment. Johnny Pang set up a support group, rallied the entire cohort and was instrumental in planning for the religious wake services.
That December night Joo Huak remembered CH cried when he told WR that the classmates sang very meaningful songs for him at the gathering. James Foo said, "Yes he wiped off his tears and it was very emotional. He sang a song and ask WR to hold the line and hear him sing." He sang Those were the days
Chris Ho from Sydney wrote, "My dear Cheong Hoh, you are surrounded by much love; gone from our sight, but never from our hearts."
At the funeral on 30 January 2021, Paul Ng our classmate and himself a pastor, shared that Cheong Hoh had the right perspective of life. Sharing a quote from King Solomon, "I have noticed something else in life that is useless. There is a man who lives alone has no son, no brother yet he is always working so hard, a useless and miserable way to live" Paul noted that Cheong Hoh was not like this man. For Cheong Hoh, his legacy is in his relationships with friends and family not in his wealth.
Cheong Hoh left behind endearing and enduring memories for most of us
Indeed Cheong Hoh ran a good race of life, the cancer only being the last lap. In the obituary in the Straits Times a Bible verse was quoted
'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' 2 Timothy 4:7
There is a well-loved RI school song, The Race Is Run. It told us as young boys that it is not in the winning but in the doing, the running and the living that counts. That is the testimony of Cheong Hoh's life, he had gripped life by the horns and lived it to the full despite its many challenges.
The race is run, the winner wears the laurel
But you and I not empty go away
For we have seen the least unkind of quarrels
Our boys and girls compete in friendly fray
Let us be glad but not because of winning
For we are all one family today
God give our School his choicest blessings
To make us live as one and guide us one our way
Contributed by Lionel Lee, Chua Song Chye, Lee Yoon Moi, Teo Joo Huak, James Foo, Chris Ho, Wang Swee Chuang, Paul Ng Soon Wang, Anthony Lim, Johnny Pang and others
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