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LUMEN | TRIBUTE
A Tribute to
Brother Kevin Byrne , FSC
Principal of SJI ( 1979 to 1991 )
By Eliza Lim
Dearly loved by both staff and students , Br . Kevin - the longest serving principal of SJI - is best remembered for his kind words and gentle demeanour .
Born to a farming family in Ballyknocken , Co . Wicklow , Ireland , on 24 May 1931 , Br . Kevin ( Louis ) Byrne joined the De La Salle Brothers at the age of 21 . In 1952 , along with many Irish Brothers who volunteered in those days for service , he left his native Ireland and sailed to the Far East for his first posting in St John ’ s Institution in Kuala Lumpur . He took his final vows and became a Brother of the Lasallian community on 27 August 1956 .
Br . Kevin Byrne came to St Joseph ’ s Institution ( SJI ) in Singapore as a Director in October 1977 , before taking over the helm from Br . Joseph Kiely as Principal in 1978 . He was a member of the legacy District of Penang , Malaysia , and was part of the Lasallian community in Singapore that taught at SJI and steward it in the 1970s to the 1990s .
Br . Kevin taught English Literature in SJI in the 1970s . He was fondly remembered by old boys for his Literature lessons . Dr Euan Muragasu ( Class of 1978 ), guest of honour at SJI ’ s 162nd Speech and Graduation Day on 27 September , had fond memories of Br . Kevin teaching him Graham Greene ’ s Brighton Rock . SJI Chaplain Friar Michael D ’ Cruz , also a student of Br . Kevin , shared , “ He was a principal who was also a subject teacher for Literature . Although he was firm , the gentleness of this Irishman showed forth . Br . Kevin was keen to move the boys beyond the
Literature text ... that the boys gained something beyond material possessions , to understand life and darkness through
literature . Br . Kevin was never satisfied that we lived in a superficial way .”
During his time as principal at SJI from 1979 to 1991 , Br . Kevin was instrumental in the school ’ s transition from Bras Basah to Malcolm Road in the 1980s . Part of this work focused on SJI becoming an independent school . Br . Kevin played a key role in negotiations with the Ministry of Education and meetings with the SJI development committees . The gates of SJI at Bras Basah were closed for the last time on 29 December 1987 . The following year , Josephians streamed into their new school at Malcolm Road . SJI also became an independent school , welcoming its pioneer batch of “ independent boys ” at Secondary One .
In 1991 , SJI became a single session school with all levels functioning in the morning , leaving the afternoons free for more comprehensive Co- Curricular Activities , student and staff development programmes . Sadly , the end of 1991 also saw the retirement of Br . Kevin Byrne who was SJI ’ s longest serving Principal of 13 years .
An excerpt of the “ Farewell Bouquet ” by the late Mr Goh Sin Tub , then Chairman of the SJI