Obituary: Prof.Dr.Johan Victor Torrance Abdullah. Friday 18th.Jan'08

Prof.Dr.Johan Victor Torrance Abdullah, our Faculty of Architecture,Planning & Surveying (FAPS), Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam lecturer passed away on Friday morning 18 Jan'2008...

The late Allahyarham Prof.Dr.Johan Torrance (right) with Brother Lans.
Venue: FAPS UiTM.
Date:31/7/06

I received this text msg (in Malay) at 11.30am from Brother Zulkarnain, fellow Masters classmate which read...
"Salam. Dengar khabar dari Suraya p/time Prof Torrance dah meninggal. S(em)b(ah)yang jenazah d(i) Masjid UiTM t(en)gh(ari) (i)ni. Al Fatihah. "

Translation.
"Greetings. Heard from Suraya part time student that Prof Torrance has passed away.The prayer for the deceased is at the UiTM mosque this afternoon.Al Fatihah."


Immediately I called up Prof.Hadi and Prof confirmed that Prof.Torrance passed away this (Friday) morning at 9.30am at the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur due to asthmatic problems. "Innalillah..." and the verse Al-Fatihah was read for the deceased roh. I also sent out text mesgs to lecturers and friends (ex-students of Building Surveying and Masters in Facilities Management FAPS) to inform of the matter.

I said to myself that I must pay my last respects to Prof.Torrance...and in less than an hour drive, I managed to reach the UiTM Islamic Centre (Pusat Islam) from Putrajaya! And it was even 1/2 an hour before the call for the Friday prayers.

The jenazah was placed near the mimbar

The jenazah arrived 10-15 mins before the Friday sermon (khutbah Jumaat) and was brought to the front portion of the prayer hall. After the Friday prayer and solat hajat, the jemaah gathered near the mimbar to perform the solat jenazah which was also lead by the Friday prayer Imam. Among those present (who I recognized) at the Islamic Centre during/after the solat jenazah were Dr.Madina (the late Prof.Torrance's wife) and FAPS lecturers such as Dr.Ezani, Dr.Fadzil Hassan (my Masters Supervisor), Dr.Hadi, Prof.Ghani, Dr.Hisham, Dr.Zainal, Dr.Jamalulil, Mr.Ruslan Effendi, Mr.Ghazali and Mr.Suffian.

After the solat jenazah, Allahyarham Prof.Torrance's jenazah was taken to the Section 21 Shah Alam's muslim burial ground. Among those present (again who I recognized) were UiTM's Vice Chancellor Dato' Seri Prof.Dr.Ibrahim Abu Shah, Dr.Madina, Prof.Hadi, Mr. Ruslan Affendi, QS lecturer Mr.Radin , architecture lecturers Mr.Syed, Che Wan and Mr.Yaacob and Hafiz ICPM Masters student. Other familiar faces who were present were mostly from the faculty.

Talqin VC Dato' Seri Ibrahim Shah (wearing songkok & dark glasses) was also present. Alhamdulillah, all was over by 1545hrs.

The late Allahyarham Prof.Torrance was teaching subjects such as "Human Resource Management & Organizational Behavior" and "Dissertation Research Methodology" for Masters in Facilities Management and Integrated Construction Project Management programs. A resourceful and learned person, he will be missed by all who had known him...

May Allah bless his soul and put him amongst the pious. Amin.