David (Laurence) Fahy

Sincere condolences to Mr Fahy’s family. He was a force to be reckoned with. At the same time, he was also gentle, kind and encouraging when the times needed it.

He inspired me to always be curious, to always continue learning, and to always question. He will be deeply missed!

Dear Dolores, Vanessa and Zanya, deepest condolences to you. May Mr Fahy rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him. He put his heart into teaching and always spoke up when he felt that things needed to be put right. He bore his illness with dignity and inspired us with his determination to do his best. I had walked past his table to look at the stacks of books he collected, and to remember him. I remember how he would leave an article on my table that he thought would interest me and I would go to his table to thank him for it and to talk about it. I remember the twinkle in his eye and the memorable presentation we did on Socratic Questioning; I remember his kindness, calmness, thoughtfulness and support; I remember him exhorting the students to be curious and imaginative when he addressed them at assembly. God bless Mr Fahy and God bless every one of you in his loving family.

Sincere sympathy to Dolly, Vanessa, Zanya, Madeleine, Nicola & Jennifer, Mary & extended family, relations & friends on the passing of David.

Dad shared many stories of happy times of your childhood in Glenville & in later years when you met up on your visits to Loughrea.
He thoroughly enjoyed the time you spent together. His face always lit up when your name & the family was mentioned in conversation as he recalled more stories.

I hope you are both catching up now & are looking after those of us left behind, until we meet again.🙏🏻💖

Thankful to have been Mr Fahy's student. He was truly an intellectual and an inspiring character.

My deepest condolences. Rest in peace!

My sincere sympathy to David's family and friends at this time.
May he rest in peace.

He intimidated and inspired. He compelled us to stand for our beliefs but only if we held those beliefs consciously and after critically engaging with them. He demanded that we rise to the occasion of our own greatness - which sometimes he saw in us better than we saw in ourselves. He did not pander to conventional pressures and teach to ace exams. He taught to ace life. This is something that I see clearer now than I did then. At 16, your world is only as big as your mind can conceive. Mr Fahy set out to expand our minds and in so doing expanded our world and our ability to see our own possibilities within it. But, for me, the core lasting and transformative impact that Mr Fahy has had on my life is the example he set as a learner. He understood that at ANY AGE, your world is only as big as your mind can conceive. So he lived his life reading voraciously, thinking independently, debating rigorously and contemplating deeply as his core values. As a teacher he was THE example of what it means to BE a learner. He practised what he preached for the joy of it. The fullness of a life lived in that learner mode of being - that, to me, was Mr Fahy’s superpower as a teacher and mentor, and his philosophical legacy. It is this light that guides my own approach to teaching and learning and life. [Excerpt from tribute delivered at funeral service on 14 May 2025.]

We were colleagues at the English Department of Catholic Junior College, Singapore, for more than a decade. Thoughts of you bring a smile to my face. I remember the many jokes that you told that were seriously funny and mostly told before the beginning of the first bell of the day. I would think how could he remember that small funny incident which was told before the start of class in the early mornings. Yes, you were serious most of the time, but within you there were wits waiting to let go for a laugh to take its place. You were someone who was serious most times. Yet, I could say your sense of wit was always present. I will always remember you as a kind man who has his sense of humour. I extend my sincerest condolences to your family.

One of my English literature lecturers at A level college has gone to heaven. He was a wonderful lecturer. His mind brilliant like a diamond. He was also empathetic. One day, he saw me walking and said he was sorry to lose my talent in the extra curricular club he ran at school. I had chosen to devote my time to the girls hockey team instead of the drama and debating society. Then another time seeing me in quite a lousy mood as a 17 year old he asked what happened because I looked as if I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulder. I shrugged it off after that happy that someone had recognised something but happy to forget it. He was so unashamedly loud that if he caught students talking in the library he would shout for everyone to keep quiet. If you want to talk he said loudly for all and sundry "GET OUT of the library". Mr Fahy was such a lovely man, strict but a really good teacher/lecturer. I remember our Jane Eyre lecture he said loudy " JANE EYRE left Thornfield penisless and penniless ". We were stunned into silence, to learn and to feel somehow Mr Rochester had come to life. We lost a good soul. A good teacher with the ethos of a professional and a sharp mind. May you find eternal peace Mr Fahy. Thank you for teaching at Catholic Junior College Singapore and being a good professional teacher to me and a good professional colleague to my mother. You will be missed. My condolences to his wife and daughters whom he was very proud of.

My deepest condolences to the Fahy family.

Thank you Mr Fahy for your guidance on my path pursuing Philosophy and becoming who I am today. Though we didn’t keep in touch after I graduated, I forever feel grateful to all your support and our intellectual engagement. No matter where you are now, I believe you will continue to inspire others with your love for knowledge acquisition and sharing.

Thank you, Mr Fahy. Please Rest in Peace.

KI 2016/17 Cohort

Heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends, students of David. What a privilege it was for all of you to have shared his life. You have been enriched. May God comfort you all.

As friends of Jennifer Fahy, we wish the family the deepest condolences and offer this verse in peace and respect for the loss of a much loved brother.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

Sea-Fever, verse .1, John Masefield

Sincere sympathy to David's wife & family,also to his sisters,cousin Mary & friends on the loss of David.
May he rest in peace.

Mr Fahy was truly one of a kind. In all my years of formal education, he was the most memorable teacher I have ever had the privilege of learning from.

He embodied the meaning of an educator - someone who wanted his students to not simply be book-smart but desire learning for learning’s sake. He definitely succeeded in that. It was Mr Fahy who sparked something in my 17-year-old brain, talking about the meaning of time and the existence of God, which led to me studying Philosophy in university.

Thank you, Mr Fahy, for touching my life and so many others’. You were larger than life and will never be forgotten.

My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

2T07 ‘13

Please accept my sincere condolences. May you find much comfort from family and friends.
I am proud and glad to have met David. He will surely be missed by many.
My thoughts are with you.

Dearest Dolly, Zanya, Vanessa and all the Fahy family.
We were all so very saddened and deeply shocked to hear the news of your dear husband and father.
He was an inspiration to all who knew him, as a fine man, a family man, a marvellous husband and devoted father.
The world will be the poorer with out him. The pain is too much to bare.
you must continue with all he has taught you it is more necessary than ever in these difficult times to be as he was,
Brave, Hopeful, Compassionate, open minded and above all Merryhearted.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, sending so much love always.

Condolences to the Fahy family on the loss of David. May his soul rest in peace.

To the Fahy family, my deepest condolences.

Mr David Fahy was not a force to be reckoned with. His voice was distinct and could be heard from across the hall.

I couldn’t have asked for a better home tutor. I wouldn’t have it any other way. He taught us well and persisted in striving us to think differently and not conform to the norms. It was a challenge to us in our formative years between adolescence and emerging adulthood, and it left a lasting impact. He wasn’t teaching us how to do well academically but a way of thinking, one that carries you through life. He challenged the syllabus not because he was aloof, but because it was limiting. Though he was stern, loud, excitable, he was also a gentle giant when he allowed those moments. He was also kind and gave the necessary pep talk even when we may have disliked it in the moment. But his nagging persisted and I recall his pep talks in his voice till this day. He nagged because he cared, even when he didn’t have to.

I often wondered why someone so intellectual, decided to teach in a Junior College as a student. But I stopped wondering when I realised that it was truly a blessing that I was able to be taught by someone so great. It wasn’t just teaching, in the classroom was tough love, life lessons and laughter.

May he rest in eternal peace.

I pray that the family seek solace, in knowing the lasting and profound impact he has had on generations upon generations, the lasting legacy he has left behind.

We are deeply sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
With heartfelt sympathy,

My Love to you all on the passing of David - an amazing man. May he rest in Peace and watch over Dolly, Vanessa, Zanya and the whole family. May you be Strong but Smile for David and for all of you.
RIP David May the Angels be with you

Sincere sympathy to the Fahy family on the sad passing of David.
Thinking of you all today and your parents and dear sister Alison RIP

Martina

Sincere condolences Vanessa Zanya Dolores Jenny Madeleine and Nicola on the passing of your father and brother. May he Rest in Peace.🙏

Nicola and the extended Fahy family.
Sincere condolences on the loss of your dear brother David.
May your memories of your brother bring you comfort in the days ahead.

Dolly and Family,
Dave, though we didn't meet in person I am so thankful for the love and support you gave to Dolly(one of my favorite students) and to your whole family as well. May Our ALMIGHTY FATHER grant you eternal rest in Heaven. Please be strong Dolly and family during this difficult and sad event that all of you are going through.
Please accept our deepest sympathy and we'll continue to pray for Dave and to all of you as well.
Yours in CHRIST,
Kuya Jay, Ate Jane and TRRF

Sincere sympathy to the Fahy family and extended families on the sad passing of David. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Sincere sympathies to Dolores, and to all of David's family, on your sad loss. May he rest in eternal peace 🙏

Bis bald, Mein Kamerad

It's difficult to process Mr. Fahy's passing — he always seemed immortal to me, especially when I think back to my formative years in sixth form (as he pointed out) at Catholic Junior College. A legend, a giant, a teacher. How rare it is to have witnessed such a comet in my life. Thank you, Mr. Fahy, for imparting your wisdom, and for believing in us.

The very short time I spend with David was the most interesting, stimulating and funnest conversation I have ever had. A kind, highly intelligent and amusing man. My heart goes out to all the family.

Mr. Fahy was my Home Tutor and Literature teacher in 2014, my graduating year at Catholic Junior College.

His passing has not been easy for me to process because he has always moved through the school compound and my memory with sturdiness and comforting constancy. He seemed to belong among a select few who possess an inexplicable, sempiternal quality that contradicts mortality. I'd only spoken to him once or twice in the decade since leaving CJC, yet in the knowledge he was still there, in the having been his student and in his classroom, in the words of wisdom and consolation gifted, I found (and continue to find) a little bit more confidence than I would have had otherwise to get through life. What power.

There is no duplicate and never will be, though I will try to carry into my own classrooms an echo of his fervour for life and language. Rest well, Mr. Fahy.

"His bark is stoutly timbered and his pilot
Of very expert and approved allowance
Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
Stand in bold cure."

He has committed 30 years of his life to nurture budding talents in Catholic Junior College alone. Behind his imposition of discipline and high standards of academic rigour lies his passion for literature and education. His reenactments of scenes in Hamlet has been nothing but memorable, and he has opened new pathways of intellectual pursuit to all his students.

Like a lighthouse, guiding sailors through the darkest turbulent torrents, he has guided batches of students through the labyrinthian texts and essays of the A level "game." His living legacy is the generations of students and thinkers who owe their erudition to him.

Requiescat in pace, Mr. Fahy. You will be missed dearly.

Sincere sympathy to the Fahy family on David’s passing. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Fahy family on the sad passing of David. May He Rest In Peace.

Mr Fahy was my Literature teacher in CJC from 2021- 2022. It's surreal know that I was in his 2nd last literature class. He taught with so much rigour, enthusiasm, and wit. He was an absolutely brilliant teacher, with a commanding presence, and a dry sense of humour that he infused into every lesson. Without him, I can confidently say that I would not love literature as much as I do.

I consider myself so, so lucky to have had the opportunity to receive his mentoring and instruction during his time at CJC. While he was admittedly intimidating, he was one of the most unique and memorable teachers I had in my entire educational journey. Mr Fahy was truly an exceptional individual, who will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Requiescat in pace, O captain, my Captain.

Thank you Mr Fahy for always teaching with such passion - and making time to thoroughly address the questions I had - and were underlying. You lived a v good life and inspired so many around you - thank you and rest well.

My heartfelt condolences to David Fahy's family. David lived a life befitting a teacher and he was loved by his students and colleagues. As David's colleague at Catholic Junior College Singapore, I have always seen him with a smiling face, preparing for lessons, creating the best study materials for his students. May God give his family strength and courage to face this difficult time. RIP David

David was the kind of man that you meet once in a lifetime. A true intellect, philosopher and witty person with an eye for truth. I greatly enjoyed working with David and am utterly devastated to hear of his loss. I would like to pass on my sincerest condolences to Dolores and the girls. Please know that a soul like his never really leaves us. He has touched the lives of so many young people and I feel that anyone who knew him will retain a little element of David within us. I recall the lengthy and hilarious tales of his time in Nigeria as well as the stinging put downs of those in officious positions. We are the poorer for his loss but the richer for having him in our lives.

Mr Fahy was truly a giant of a person. He was such a good, good human with depth of understanding and generosity of heart! We will miss him so much. His legacy will continue.

My deepest condolences to Dolores, Vanessa and Zanya. It has been a blast working with David for 30 years; enjoying his acerbic wit and philosophical insights. David was a true Thinker and Intellectual! But also a kind and gentle soul! He will not be easily forgotten.

My deepest condolences.

I was fortunate enough to have known, and been taught by Mr David Fahy. He was one of the reasons why I ended up pursuing Literature.

With every fibre of his being, Mr Fahy strove to articulate to us a different perspective on what it means to learn and to live: daring to ask questions and to seek answers. His insistence on good, old-fashioned hard work is valuable more than ever today. I still recall his lessons, anecdotes, and his unexpected penchant for theatrics in various moments of my adult life. He was never one to shy away from a bit. For making us laugh and teaching us otherwise, I sincerely thank him. His life and energy will be forever immortalised in countless memories.

Mr Fahy was a force all on his own. In a system where Singaporean students are taught to be grades-forward, never mind learning, Fahy routinely sought to change that, and I am sure that he has left an inedible mark on anyone who had the fortune to be his student, as he did with myself.

How to describe a man that didn't care much for rules, and was prone to dramatic exclamations and actions? Someone that was an educator in the true sense of the word, living and breathing his philosophy, a 'rebel with a cause'? How to describe someone that was larger-than-life, an enigma that students—and even fellow teachers—would look up to in fear and awe and respect?

How lucky we are that Fahy dedicated his life to teaching with much gusto and flair, instead of choosing to be a hermit philosopher elsewhere.

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Fahy. You were a great mentor and a teacher. Thanks for guiding me Sir. I’ll miss you.

My sincere condolences to All the Fahy family on Davids passing. May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathies to Dolores and all the Fahy Family on Davids passing, May his gentle soul rest in peace 🙏

Sincere sympathy to Dolores, Vanessa & Zanya on the passing of David. May He Rest in Peace.
Thinking of you all at this hard time

Sending our love to all the family, it was a true gift to have had the chance to meet David. Such a wonderful man may he rest in peace now

Sincere condolences to the Fahy family at this sad time

May David’s gentle soul rest in eternal peace

David was an inspiration at CJC and he cared for his students. They loved him. Thank you Lord for the gift of Mr Fahy ❤️

My sincere sympathy to Dolores and family, the Fahy family, extended families and relatives on David's passing. May he Rest In Peace.

Deepest sympathy.

Thank you Mr. Fahy for nurturing us students, never ceasing to push us to think deeper and forming our minds to see beyond surface value. You were a force to be reckoned with and it's safe to say we are now all better because of it.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.

I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Mr Fahy. So much of how I see the world was shaped by conversations with him and his classes. I was just a teenager, struggling to comprehend truth and illusion, and he heard me. Thank you, Mr Fahy, for teaching me that it is okay to question. I hope I can lead a meaningful life that does justice to everything you taught me.

I remember Mr Fahy dearly a formidable educator who coached me through my H3 literature paper. As an educator myself today, I owe Mr Fahy so much gratitude and honor. And yet, I do not have sufficient words to encapsulate what he has done for me and many others. Thank you, Mr Fahy. May you rest in peace. Godspeed.

My sincere condolences. By far the most important teacher in my life and profoundly impactful. Loved our conversations, wish we could have had more.

Please accept my deepest condolences on Mr. Fahy's passing. I was a student of his at Catholic Junior College, and he was an powerful and incredible influence on my journey of learning. He opened my mind up to the world like never before, and while it was certainly intimidating, he also made sure my classmates and I left with the tools, foundation and courage to tackle it all head-on. He was an truly an awesome philosopher-educator. I will always remember him. Please take care.

Mr Fahy taught me in CJC in 2014. He was an amazing and inspiring tutor and encouraged me to try my very best. You will be missed Mr Fahy. My condolences to his family and friends.

I’m heartbroken by the passing of my beloved Tito Dave. He wasn’t just an uncle—he was like a second father me.

Even in quiet moments, you made us feel your love. I’ll miss your laugh, your care, and your gentle presence. Thank you for everything, especially the way you looked after me in Singapore and in your hometown.

Rest now, Tito Dave. No more pain.
I’ll miss you deeply. I love you.

2T07 (2013-2014)

My heartfelt condolences to Mr Fahy’s family. Mr Fahy was one of the most impactful teachers in my life, and made me fall in love with arts and the humanities. I know he has been a significant part of many other students’ lives as well. I’m so grateful to have had my life cross paths with him. I will keep him in my prayers. ❤️

Deepest condolences on the loss to the family. David was such a toweing figure of kindness, erudition and a commitment to eliciting learning. I shall always remember him with a twinkle in his eye and a pile of books in his arms. Ignorance shrivelled into a deep corner as he advanced. He will be remembered.

My deepest condolences to Mr Fahy's family on his passing. Like many others, the role he played in my education was unforgettable. I was in his form class where he taught literature, and up till today, my old classmates and I would fondly reminisce his characteristic teaching style and vigor in reenacting our texts, inspiring in us a deeper appreciation of the subject. He has made an indelible mark in my years of education and I'm so grateful to have been his student. May he rest in peace.

Dear Mr Fahy,

You gave us, your students, so much of your time and wisdom. I will always remember the explosiveness of your dramatic side, your deep passion for literature texts and how you bring them to life with such enthusiasm and even persistence for us to burn it into our brains when we your students were “unthinking lumps of human matter”. Hahaha.

We will never forget your sense of humour, and though sometimes you were hard on us, it was never with mean intention but always with our futures and learning at heart. We will miss you. Greatly, deeply, dramatically, astronomically. After all, you taught me what hyperbole, diction, and dramatic irony is. I guess now the irony is that you’re probably somewhere out there, smiling and free of pain, while we mourn you.

My deepest regards and condolences,
Russell wong
Class of CJC 2013, 2T07
My David Fahy was our Home Tutor.