Obituaries
Please alert us to the recent death of any other Rhodes Scholar by emailing communications@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk.
Richard was an excellent all-rounder doing well in both sport and academics. He was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship in 1957 and studied geography. He was also Head of School House at Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town, South Africa. He stayed connected to his school and tutored maths there for many years. He followed a career in teaching until his retirement.
We are saddened by the news of Frank's passing. He came to Oxford in 1948 to study Law.
Words from Elizabeth Kiss, CEO & Warden of Rhodes House
On behalf of all of us at the Rhodes Trust, I am heartbroken to share that Eusebius McKaiser (South Africa-at-Large & St Antony's 2003) passed away yesterday from an apparent epileptic seizure. He was taken from us tragically young, at the age of 45.
We all feel this loss especially keenly, as Eusebius has been serving as co-chair, along with Karen Stevenson (North Carolina & Magdalen 1979) of our Engaging Our History advisory group which is in the final stages of completing its work.
We’ve lost an important, fiercely independent political voice – who spoke truth to power from a deeply personal and humane space. Eusebius embraced his own vulnerabilities and encouraged us all to do the same; whilst challenging us to interrogate our biases and then sit and grapple with the discomfort we might feel. He was larger than life, and the hole he leaves will be similarly immense.
He was a prolific writer and broadcaster, well known across South Africa and beyond for his astute political commentary, grounded in his academic training as a moral philosopher. With his incisive intellect and fearless candour, he laid bare the painful racial inequities and complex dysfunctions of his beloved country with boldness, energy and wit. His work as an LGBTQIA+ activist and educator has also left a profound mark on the gay rights landscape of South Africa.
Combining charisma and eloquence with an enormous heart, Eusebius exemplified the Rhodes Scholarship ideals of kindness, courage and a commitment to fighting the world’s fight. We are so grateful for his willingness to co-chair the Engaging Our History group, for the energy and dedication he brought to this important work, and for his generous spirit of service in all of the other volunteer roles he took on, from selection to mentoring to name just a few.
I extend heartfelt condolences to his partner Nduduzo, their family and friends, and to all who knew and admired Eusebius and his work. We will forever be grateful for his leadership and friendship, and will continue to be inspired by his example. The best tribute is to pick up where he left off – to speak truth to power, be fearless, be vulnerable, be courageous, and never stop reading and learning.
Former national water polo player and veteran sports official Tan Eng Liang was a “sporting giant” with a “heart of gold” who will be missed dearly by his family, friends and the Singapore sports fraternity.
He is survived by his wife Kathryn, three children and five grandchildren.
His family said in a statement on Sunday: “Our dearest father, Dr Tan Eng Liang, passed away peacefully. He had been battling advanced cancer. We grieve deeply as he was a devoted father and doting grandfather who loved us unconditionally. He taught us strong values to live by and exemplified these principles in his own life.
“We will miss him dearly. Dad devoted his life to serving the community particularly in the field of sports. Even in the midst of illness, he continued to contribute with grit and courage. He was an inspiration to us all. A bright star has dimmed but it shines in our hearts forever.”
Tan and his older brothers Eng Chai and Eng Bock, who both died in 2020, represented Singapore in water polo at major events such as the South-east Asian Peninsular (Seap) Games and Asian Games.
The siblings learnt to swim in the open sea and Tan’s love of sport was clear from a young age. To earn a spot on the national water polo team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, he had to put his studies aside, resulting in a failed attempt to enter medical school. He went on to win three medals – a bronze and two silvers – at the Asian Games and two Seap Games golds.
Outside the pool, he was Singapore’s first Rhodes scholar. He obtained a doctorate in chemistry from Oxford University in 1964.
He then went into politics as River Valley’s Member of Parliament before becoming Minister of State for National Development from 1975 to 1978. He was the Senior Minister of State for Finance from 1979 to 1980.
Born in Vancouver, Stuart graduated from Lord Byng High and UBC. Awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for British Columbia (1962), he obtained a doctorate in History from the University of Oxford in 1966 and joined the faculty at Trent University, Peterborough. A true scholar and exemplary teacher, Stuart was unwaveringly kind and gentle and had an irreverent sense of humour.
Ockert came up to Oxford in 1954. Since he retired in September 1991, Ockert has devoted himself to genealogy and local history. He published several papers in local genealogical journals and a book Die Van Schalkwyks van die Nieuweveld, (1997, revised 2003). In 2008, he received the Margaret Cairns Award of the Western Cape branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa. He was Vice Chairman of Die Stellenbosse Heemkring for a number of years and also published two CDs with historical documentation of the Stellenbosch Dutch Reformed Congregation (established in 1686). Ockert was elected as honorary member of the Heemkring in 2011.
Benjamin Rabinowitz obtained a B.A. (with distinction) from UCT, was awarded a SACS Rhodes Scholarship and went up to Oxford, receiving his MA Law there. He had been semi-retired from the property industry since 2005. He loved music and supported many cultural, educational and other charitable institutions. He initiated the successful campaign to save Oudekraal from property development, helped save Princess Vlei and led the campaign by SEAFA to save the Sea Point beachfront for the community. He received the Mayor’s Medal for Philanthropy, the Inyathelo Award for Lifetime Philanthropy, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Sea Point and the Spectemur Agendo Award from SACS and in 2013, the UCT President of Convocation Medal. He was also on the board of the Cape Town Concert Series, Croxton, LEAP Science & Maths School, Musiquelaine SA and the Cape Jewish Seniors Association and a trustee of the Ben and Shirley Rabinowitz Cricket Trust.
We are saddened to hear of Richard's passing. He came to Oxford in 1966 to study Politics. A service was held in his memory on 19 May 2023 in Clarksburg, Maryland.
We are terribly saddened to let you know of the death of Professor Derek Allen, Trinity’s long-serving Dean of Arts & Vice-Provost and Honorary Fellow, and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. We are all reeling from the sudden loss of someone so important to the Trinity community.
For 60 years, Derek was at the heart of the Trinity community — first, as an outstanding undergraduate student and alumnus (Class of 1969), and then as a professor and as a key college administrator. He was a highly respected philosopher (and wickedly intelligent about most everything!), and a consummate academic administrator.
But Derek was so much more than this. He was a wonderful role model, kind human being and friend to so many in our community. In his quiet but resolute ways, he enriched the students’ academic experience and always put students first. He was unfailingly wise and generous as a colleague and mentor, both at Trinity and in the wider University of Toronto community. And as a long-time donor and a prominent member of the Salterrae Society, Derek was always a leader in encouraging support for the College so that the unique Trinity experience could extend to future generations. Even long after his “retirement,” Derek continued to play a crucial role at the college, teaching in the programs, supporting various committees and, in ways too numerous to list, making Trinity a better place.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, in 2019, Derek received the highest honour that Trinity College bestows upon an individual — an Honorary Fellowship. As the citation said, the fellowship was in recognition of his long and distinguished career as an esteemed academic leader, a respected colleague, and a generous mentor to students at both Trinity College and the University of Toronto.
Professor John Duncan, who worked closely with Derek at Trinity for 15 years, shares this reflection:
“Derek was an incredibly kind-hearted person — fundamentally gracious and supportive of all those around him. Derek had a deep and abiding love for the academic mission. Trinity was his academic home for more than six decades. From his student days to a 16-year term as Dean of Arts and Vice-Provost, his love for the college, its people and its programs of study was always evident. He believed in higher education, and he worked tirelessly to make it the best it could be at Trinity. Derek was an incredibly sharp and clear thinker, writer and speaker, and a master of organization. In some ways, he was unassuming, and yet his presence was always felt because he was genuinely supportive of others. And because he was an academic, he made a huge difference in the lives of students, staff and faculty over the many decades of his career. He cared for each of us, and we are better because of him. He was and is widely loved and respected, and he will be sorely missed.”
Although many of you may already know about Derek’s contributions to Trinity, you may not be aware of his larger impact on academe — so I wanted to share these highlights from his biography:
Professor Emeritus Derek Allen, Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto, graduated from the University of Toronto in 1969 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and History, a Rhodes Scholarship (Ontario), and a Governor General’s Medal for the highest standing in the Humanities in Trinity College’s graduating class. He earned two graduate degrees at the University of Oxford, including a D.Phil. in Philosophy. From 1996-2012, he served as Trinity’s Vice-Provost and Dean of Arts, and was responsible for the growth of the College’s excellent academic programs. He has received five teaching awards, including an Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations award for an outstanding contribution to university teaching and a 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award in recognition of teaching excellence and educational leadership. In 2013, he received the Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award for “a faculty member who has served the University of Toronto with distinction in multiple leadership capacities in diverse spheres over many years.”
Trinity College has been profoundly shaped by Derek Allen and we will not be the same without him. He will be deeply missed.