Friends and family pay respect to the late president Nathan

Family and friends paid their respects to former president S R Nathan at his family home in Ceylon Road on Tuesday (Aug 23) morning.

Mr Nathan, 92, died at the Singapore General Hospital on Monday (Aug 22) night after being warded there since July 31 when he had a stroke.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Mr Nathan "personified multi-racialism. "He was Singapore."

DPM Teo Chee Hean called Mr Nathan a giant of his times.

"He helped build a stable and secure Singapore for all of us. I will always remember him as a caring person with values that inspired the whole nation."

DPM Teo Chee Hean at Mr Nathan's wake. PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

Over at the Istana, condolence boards were put up in front of the Istana for visitors to pen messages to Mr Nathan.

Mr Glenn van Zutphen, 52, was there with his two children, aged seven and 10.

Originally from Chicago, Mr van Zutphen, now a PR, has been living in Singapore for 12 years.

"I used to bumped into him at East Coast Park, when he took walks," said the president of American Association of Singapore.

"I was always surprised at how humble he was, taking a moment just to talk to a foreigner."

Condolence boards were put up this morning in front of the Istana for visitors to pen their tribute messages to Mr Nathan. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

Sales director Robin Leslie Lee had met Mr Nathan twice, once during National Day Parade in the late 2000s where he was performing, and the next time at a community service event.

Mr Lee, 35, said: "He acknowledged me first, asked for my name, and I was surprised. Why would the President want to talk to me? He remembered my name the second time I met him. He was a humble man, a gentle giant."

Ms S. L. Tan stopped by the condolence board after lunch to leave a tribute for the late Mr Nathan.

The 32-year-old teacher said: "It's quite important that this generation knows more about him, as he has done a lot for our nation."

Ms S. L. Tan bought a copy of Mr Nathan's autobiography so she could find out more about him. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

The body of the late Mr Nathan will lie in state at Parliament House on Thursday (Aug 25), where the public may pay their last respects from 10am till 8pm.

A State Funeral Service will take place on Friday from 4pm at the University Cultural Centre (NUS).