Kindness returns to St Xavier’s Institution ‘icon’

GEORGE TOWN: It pays to be kind and lend an ear, even to strangers, and Vincent Michael can attest to this.

Always a picture of calm when he worked at the country’s second oldest school – SMK St Xavier’s Institution (SXI) – Vincent would often listen to the grievances of both educators and secondary school students.

This kind gesture made him a perennial figure in SXI, and his friendly and caring disposition is synonymous with the culture of the school.

Now at 87, Vincent just smiles and listens, never having much to say except for a few kind words even to those venting out their frustrations.

His demeanour was enough to calm both teachers and students who were upset, going about school affairs.

Known by many as just Vincent, he was an orphan who was raised by the La Salle Christian Brothers, who in the 1950s were managing the school.

From young, the school was his only known home for decades. He studied, lived and grew old within the corridors of SXI on Farquhar Street.

On reaching adulthood, he took on a variety of tasks, from an administrative staff to a groundskeeper, even fixing light bulbs and tending to the garden.

Occasionally, the old boys or teachers would treat him to an evening meal and drinks at a coffee shop.

Today Vincent is stricken with old age. As the school administration could no longer care for him, he was dispatched to an old folks home.

But the spirit of multi-ethnic Malaysia was not lost as the old boys never forgot him.

The school’s Parent – Teacher Association chairman Victor Tan relayed Victor’s plight over social media.

This got the attention of other Xavierians such as Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffery Chew and Victor’s brother Anslem who, together with former students of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other races, rallied together and raised close to RM17,000 to help secure Vincent’s stay at the home and help with his finances.

Tan said the old boys from US, Japan and Australia also donated in cash and kind.

This new year, Vincent can rest easy knowing that all the years he spent being kind and a good listener to everyone at the school is being returned in kind.