Adrian Tan Gim Hai, The Law Society President & Author of The Teenage Textbook, Dies at 57

By
George Yang
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Adrian Tan Gim Hai Dies at 57 Years Old After Battling Cancer for Over a Year

Adrian Tan Gim Hai, President of the Law Society of Singapore and celebrated author of the iconic novels, The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook, passed away on 8 July 2023, at 5:35pm. His battle with cancer, which lasted over a year, came to an end at the age of 57.

Adrian Tan was a highly regarded partner in one of Singapore’s leading law firms, TSMP Law Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Angeline, an employee of the Ministry of Defence. The couple did not have any children.

Adrian Tan’s Gallant Fight Against Cancer

Adrian Tan publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis in a LinkedIn post on 28 July 2022, although he refrained from specifying the particular type of cancer he was combating.

He declared with immense resolve, “I will fight cancer, fight my cases in court, and fight for lawyers as their president, until the clock runs out”.

At that juncture, he had recently assumed the position of President of the Law Society in January of the same year, carrying out his duties remotely due to a compromised immune system.

However, after this declaration, there were no further updates on his fight against cancer.

His law firm has since paid tribute to Mr Tan, praising him as a “wonderful colleague, a nurturing mentor, and a loyal friend”.

As the President of the Law Society, they acknowledged his instrumental role in fervently advocating for the interests of lawyers across Singapore.

Adrian Tan: The Renowned Author of Bestselling Novels, The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook

In addition to his legal pursuits, Adrian Tan was acclaimed for his bestselling novels, The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook.

These publications, penned during his undergraduate years at the National University of Singapore, were released in 1988 and 1989 respectively.

The popularity of The Teenage Textbook transcended the written medium, culminating in its adaptation into a film in 1998.

Mr Tan was also recognized for his willingness to voice his opinions on contentious topics, ones that individuals in positions of power often shy away from. A case in point is his vocal advocacy for permitting cats in HDB flats.

In the wake of his passing, prominent figures have expressed their respects. Among them is the Law Minister, K Shanmugam, who stated that Tan’s passing represents a “significant loss”.

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George Yang
Email: [email protected]