In mourning: David and a relative consoling Ooi during Stephen’s funeral service at the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya.
PETALING JAYA: Music was his life. Showbiz promoter Stephen Joseph was also known for having lived his life spreading notes of happiness and care to the people around him.
That is what many of Stephen’s friends had to say in describing him during a wake held at his house on Tuesday.
“He would go out of his way to help fellow musicians who are in need.
“He was the type of man you would call whenever you had a problem. And he would work hard to solve it,” said Francis Danker, 65, who had been friends with Stephen for more than 30 years.
Danker, a musician, said Stephen, 54, would even organise charity events to help the families of musicians who had passed away.
“We musicians often find it hard to get work when we get older and have difficulty playing.
“Stephen understood that and always looked out for his fellow musicians and their families,” he said.
Another close friend, radio personality Nigel Green, in his 40s, said Stephen was at times stern and frank in voicing out his opinions, but he was a selfless man.
“He was the type of person who would give you his last dollar if it meant putting food on your table.
“The music industry here has lost a great man,” he said when met at Stephen’s house in Section 19 on Tuesday night.
As for another close friend, Vijay Nair, in his 40s, said he was still shocked over the turn of events.
“I spoke to him on Saturday night about coming up to Kuala Lumpur to discuss business with him, but he told me he would come down to Singapore to see me instead.
“I was looking forward to seeing him, but the next day I got that dreadful call that he had passed away,” he said.
It was a sombre affair at Stephen’s funeral service.
His wife Mary Ooi, 53, was seen calm and occasionally wore a faint smile when she was approached.
The funeral service was held at the Assumption Church in Jalan Templer at 2pm yesterday, followed by his cremation at Jalan 229, Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya.
Among the celebrities who paid their last respects at Stephen’s funeral were actor Hans Isaac, 1970s band Alleycats frontman Datuk David Arumugam and musician Gerard Singh.
It was reported that police are looking for a man believed to be involved in the fatal assault of Stephen, the former manager of Alleycats, on Monday.
The man is described as “big and wearing a T-shirt” at the time of the incident – around 7.30pm in a parking lot in front of a food court in Jalan SS2/63.
Those who witnessed the incident at the car park can contact the Petaling Jaya police at 03-7966 2222.
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