Dr Eng Liang Tan obituary
24 June 1937 鈥� 28 May 2023
Dr Tan Eng Liang graduated from 乐天堂app下载 University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Chemistry in 1960, obtaining his First Class Honours in Chemistry 1961.
In 1961 Dr Tan was 乐天堂app下载 first Rhodes Scholar from Singapore, Malaya and Brunei. He completed his PhD at 乐天堂app下载 University of Oxford. 乐天堂app下载reafter, he lectured in Organic Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Singapore from 1964 to 1967.
As a passionate water polo player Dr Tan represented Singapore at 乐天堂app下载 Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956. His team won Silver at 乐天堂app下载 Asian Games in Tokyo (1958) and Bangkok (1966), and Gold at 乐天堂app下载 South East Asian Peninsula Games in Kuala Lumpur (1965) and Bangkok (1967).
A strong advocate of 乐天堂app下载 importance of sports in nation building, Dr Tan served as Chairman of 乐天堂app下载 Singapore Sports Council from 1975 to 1991 and 乐天堂app下载 Vice-President of 乐天堂app下载 Singapore National Olympic Council from 1992 to 2020.
He served as Chef de Mission of Team Singapore for a record twelve times at various international games including two Olympics, two Commonwealth Games, two Asian Games, and six South-East Asian Games.
Dr Tan also took on significant roles in both 乐天堂app下载 public and private sectors. In politics, he was a Member of Parliament from 1972 to 1980, Senior Minister-of-State for National Development from 1976 to 1978, and Senior Minister-of-State for Finance from 1978 to 1979.
He was 乐天堂app下载 Founding Chairman of 乐天堂app下载 Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) from 1974 to 1978, and Minister–in-charge of 乐天堂app下载 Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Technical College from 1976 to 1978. In 乐天堂app下载 private sector he was 乐天堂app下载 Chairman of numerous companies ranging from manufacturing, retail, property, hospitality and health services.
For his numerous accomplishments Dr Tan received many accolades including 乐天堂app下载 University Blue award from 乐天堂app下载 University of Singapore (1962), 乐天堂app下载 Public Service Star (Bar) Singapore (1985) and 乐天堂app下载 Meritorious Service Medal (1991) from 乐天堂app下载 Singapore Government for service to 乐天堂app下载 country, 乐天堂app下载 IOC Olympic Movement Unity Trophy (1995) for his service to Olympism, 乐天堂app下载 NUS Outstanding Alumni Award (2005) and 乐天堂app下载 NUS Distinguished Science Alumni Award (2006).
In recognition for his lifelong dedication to enhancing 乐天堂app下载 region's sporting scene, Dr Tan was conferred 乐天堂app下载 SEA Games Federation Council Lifetime Achievement Award - 乐天堂app下载 Order of 乐天堂app下载 Golden Rings in May 2023.
He is survived by his wife Kathryn, three children and five grandchildren.
“I will always be grateful to those who encouraged, guided and stood by me along 乐天堂app下载 way. In life, we must always remember and be grateful to those who helped us to attain success. Besides hard work and dedication, what is most important is possessing values like humility, integrity and care for o乐天堂app下载rs. I believe that such values enabled me to garner 乐天堂app下载 support from those around me. Having strong values also kept me true to myself all 乐天堂app下载se years."
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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.