So fast. It has been 5 years. Sending you a glass of Montepulciano if I may, beloved teacher.

Still miss you, Ian. I hope you are in a peaceful and lovely place. Butterflies?
Your student,
Julie

Every Chinese New Year, we never forget the day you left us. 
It was never the same again for me.

Ian was my GBS professor when I was in NTU in 2016. That was one of the last semesters of my university years. I remember clearly how he renewed my interest in Marketing, making it more meaningful and less fluffy as most people would think. He made such a huge impression in me that I really hoped that I could have reconnected with him someday after graduating. Gutted to know that he’s gone now and that day would never come.

He was different from other prof. He was wise, knowledgeable, seen-it-all and yet humble. Critical on subject matters and yet deeply caring in subtle ways. He has many good qualities both as a professor and a person. One semester was too short a time to get to know such a great man.

I’m grateful to have been your student and you’ll always be remembered.

Randomly thinking of you and your whereabouts, and whether there's any search engine equivalent where you are. Came across May San and Veronica's posts - and well, here as always Google Girl shall send a link (if you can get it):
https://www.cnet.com/culture/hereafter-ai-lets-you-talk-with-your-dead-loved-ones-through-a-chatbot/

Perhaps you may be rolling your eyes at the sheer ridiculousness of this all (not sure), but we all miss you. Very, very much.

Dr Ian McGovern was genuinely interested in the progress of his Global Marketing Strategy students in NTU, even after they have graduated (year 2005 for me). Those days we don't really have WhatsApp and social media widely in use today were at their infancy. Prof made an effort to connect us via Yahoo Groups (now defunct). Prof also went out of his way to catch up with me on my return when I was posted to China. I remembered we had dinner and he sent me home in a taxi in 2006.

He left such a lasting impression that I tried to Google his whereabouts and ended up here, 3 years too late for his memorial. Tears well up in my eyes as I type this to remember a selfless, inspirational educator and mentor.

- Class of 2005

Today is your Birthday and Good Friday too.
I will never forget this special day and Good Friday together, and I re-live the time that I made you your favourite carrot cake. It wasn't good but you said it was "the best cake". That was just you. We always stayed at home on this special day. You never asked for anything more.
I do miss you on this special day.
I wonder if you can hear me.
Happy Birthday Ian.

Dreamt that there was an AI programme that I could do video chats with you with any photo submitted. And daaamn in that dream I couldn't find a proper photo of you when I needed it. lol.

Ian was my MBA dissertation supervisor, and he accompanied my MBA cohort to our business study mission to Guangxi, China in 2017. It was a great journey. I was thinking of an important advice he gave for my dissertation topic, and a google search led me here. Sad that Ian has left us. Ian's humor and kind advice will always be remembered.

Graduated from NBS (NTU) in 2009. Prof Ian was an inspiring teacher, full of interesting and witty anecdotes. His knowledge and lessons truly brought Global Marketing Strategy (gms) lessons to live.

Was clearing my gmail today when I chanced upon an email sent to his GMS groups at the end of 2010. It began with "Hi there, I thought I'd send out this email to let you all know that I'm still alive." and made me wonder how he was doing now. Gutted to know that he has passed on and I'll never randomly receive such an email again, but his memory lives on.

Thank you for everything Prof.

Hi Dad.

Today you would have been 72 years old.
You were taken from us before you turned 70, but what a life you had. I know you wanted to do other things before you went, and I'm sure you would have done more, but I think you forgot what you'd already done. Some of the things you experienced in your life... I can only imagine what they were like. You achieved things in your 69 years that others couldn't in a hundred. You were far more incredible a man than you'd ever give yourself credit for.
I wish I'd spent more time with you when I was able. I suppose regret is unavoidable for both of us.

Things have changed quite a bit since you left us. Part of me is glad you didn't live to see this pandemic. Another part of me thinks this whole thing would probably be better with you around. I think if you were still here, I would feel more concerned for your wellbeing, yet simultaneously more relaxed because I know you would be able to keep people safe, and keep things under control.

I wish I could talk to you again, even if it were just over the phone. I would have really appreciated your help over these past couple of years.
I can often imagine what your responses might be to various topics - they wouldn't always be great responses, and you wouldn't always necessarily understand.
But you would listen, and you would help. You would try to push me in the right direction, as you've always done.

I haven't cried about you in months and months now, but of course now I'm writing this to you, waterworks.

I miss the advice I know you'd give me - I confess sometimes I become incredibly envious of friends who are still able to receive advice from their respective fathers.
But I also just wish you could see how we are now.
I wish you could see how strong Mum's being. How hard she's worked since you've been gone. How she still soldiers on, despite everything. She's unstoppable.
She also misses you dearly.
I wish I could discuss with you the things I've learned, even in the short time you've been gone; about myself, about people in general, about... things. Life.
I wish I could teach you about the stuff we didn't realise was wrong, that I've now come to understand, and I know you would too.
I wish you could meet my girlfriend. I think you would have really liked her, for a plethora of reasons.
I wish you could meet my cats, even though I know you don't care for cats. You'd see how different they are to what you'd expect. You'd come around.

Really, I wish you could meet me, who I am now. I wish you could see who I'm becoming, the direction my life is taking.
I like to think you'd be able to relax a bit about my wellbeing if you could see me now.
I can only hope you'd be proud.

I'm terrified of forgetting you. I can forget so many things, I don't want you to be one of them.
I get the impression some people thought I would step into your shoes somehow. But I didn't. I am not you. I can never be you, nor do I want to be. We are different people.
But every so often, I'm reminded that there's still so much of you in me. I hope I never let that go.
I want you to know that as I make my way through each day, I try to take the values and wisdom you instilled in me and apply them to my life. I extrapolate them, emphasise them, pass them on to others as best I can.
I'm certain that I'm not the only person who does the same, after having you in their life. I'm sure almost every one of your countless students over the years is doing just that, in some shape or form.

I like to think that in that way, you might continue to live on. Not perfectly preserved as how you once were, but in how we think, how we feel, how we act.
Thank you for giving us that.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I miss you so much.

To my dear friend Ian, your 72nd birth anniversary is about to come up. I have always remembered your birthday because it coincides with the day I file my income tax returns. I owe to you my professional interest in doing business in Southeast Asia, which was honed during our conference presentations in Thailand, our guest lectures in Viet Nam, and our work in building the then-fledgling MBA-International Business Programme. Gem, our three daughters, and I continually treasure the memories of our times at Jurong West and Nanyang View with you, Veronica, and Dominic during my years at NTU (1993-1996) and occasional visits thereafter. Best regards, Luis

Second year huh. How is it going? I wish we could chat. Still miss you and your advice.

Every time I come across an interesting article I'd still feel the urge to share it with you. Alas, your number was reassigned! I can't even send you a WhatsApp without looking like some creep now. haha.. Well, saw that there's now a mobile version of your 20yo AOE now. Maybe we should burn you a smart phone. :P I miss you.

Graduated in 2011, but today something somehow just made me search up for Ian to find out how he's doing now, so sad to know he has passed on in 2019.

Definitely has left an impression on all his students, as I can attest to one of his many memorable lessons. NTU may have changed significantly since I left, but the professors who remain are what gives the place the human touch. As no one exemplifies that more than Prof Ian.

I tried messaging and calling you just now. Saw this and realised you are gone. I am so sad. I really miss you.

I was remembering the Memorial we held to Ian's memory nearly a year ago. I knew that Ian was respected by many students during his years at NTU, but I had no idea of the depth the affection, warmth and yes love, that students felt for him.
Like every great teacher Ian touched the lives of his students, and from the comments on this page and during the memorial it is clear that Ian had a deep and long lasting impact on the lives of his students.
No better testimonial to the man and to the teacher

Thoughts with Veronica and Dominic  

Prof Ian's GMS lessons are definitely a main highlight of my university life.

I would always remember my team's presentation on choosing Bahrain for exporting where he then commented that Bahrain was having internal war at the moment.

He has taught us critical thinking, to really think through the numbers that we are proposing and not just because it looks nice. Despite his humourous sharing on his life and his world view, he also taught us principles such as punctuality. I still remember congratulating him for being the teacher of the year back in 2013 and he replied immediately. He was also very willing to offer his time to share with me when he got to know that I am running my own business.

Prof Ian, I will always miss you for being dedicated and going all out for us. You are forever missed by us all. Be rest assured, we will do you proud by succeeding in our various fields.

I just chanced upon this memorial...
To Mrs McGovern and Dominic:
I am so sorry for your loss. 
Dr Ian McGovern was my favourite NTU lecturer back in 1994. In fact, he inspired me to take marketing as my specialisation. In my final year, he was my Final-Year Project supervisor who encouraged me and my team mates to take on a project beyond Singapore. Eventually, we received a distinction under his guidance for the topic of eco-tourism in one of the Riau Islands. 
In that year of working with Dr McGovern, I had learnt on many occasions how proud and happy he was of his family. 
Mrs McGovern: This may not be of much significance now but in 1997, that Valentine's Day, Dr McGovern asked me to locate the phone number of Pete's Place in Grand Hyatt as he wanted to take you there for dinner. He told me that you like/would like that place. This was before Google and hence phone numbers were not so readily available. I offered to help him reserve the table but in the end (if my memory serves me right) it was all fully booked and Dr McGovern was very disappointed.
The first few years post graduation were tough for me and I visited Dr McGovern once on campus. Perhaps sensing that I was not having an easy time with my career, he offered to give me a car ride to Boon Lay MRT station. Before we drove off, he called home and I remember him speaking to a very young Dominic and told him that he was giving a former student a ride. After the call, he turned around and explained to me that he made it a point to call the household every time he gave female students a car ride so that Mrs McGovern would be well informed. 
He also shared with me the different parenting styles between him and Mrs McGovern. He said that he told Dominic that he did not have to do anything he was asked to unless the parents should provide a logical explanation. He said Mrs McGovern could not agree as Dominic was just a child and should learn to obey parents' instructions. That was etched in my mind as Dr McGovern's style of parenting was a totally different one from my own Asian family upbringing where explanation was never a requirement. Now, as a parent, I made it a point to explain the rationale of my instructions to my children.
These little encounters with Dr McGovern had taught me basic values of love and respect. 
Please take care Mrs McGovern and Dominic.
Yours sincerely
Sherlene

Happy Birthday Ian.
We miss you x

Happy birthday, Dad.
You would have been 70 today.
I still often forget you're gone - just last night I dreamt that you were with us, just the same as you were before you got sick.
You were laughing and joking and giving me advice.
I could really use some of that advice now. It's been difficult since you've been gone.
I miss you a lot. We all do.
I love you, always.
Happy birthday, Dad.

Ian is the father of one of my best friends, Dom. I met him only once over yumcha in Sydney with Veronica and Dom, and I found him to be a kind and wise man.
Ian, I thank you for giving me Dom, a treasured and lifelong friend. He once told me that you would listen to my song "A Thought Cascades" in the car, and I dedicate that song to you. Rest In Peace.

Dear Veronica & Dominic
May Ian sleep in peace. Heartfelt sympathy to you and Dominic on the demise of a beloved husband and a beloved father respectively. He is now in a better place where there is no more suffering but only serenity and joy. We will miss Ian who.is like a brother, loving and kind. Always ready to share his knowledge and experience to help us be more aware of what is happening. Though he has left us, his memory lives on, as a loving and generous person everready to give a helping hand. Goodbye Ian..
Sharing your grief.
Irene & Adrian Majaham

Ian, uncle Ian ("Don't call me uncle, that makes me feel old!" he would remind me) was a big part of my early life, growing up, and also to my brother Damon.
  We would travel to London with him and stay at his flat. This, I recall, was around the time he'd not long met Veronica, his wife, who he would chat to us about, enthusiastically.
  We were eventually introduced to Veronica. A lovely and interesting lady. We had only ever really spoke with people from Manchester!!.
  Ian introduced us to Chinese food. We would visit restaurants in London and we could order whatever we wanted. A small thing to some people, but this was new and amazing for us. Chopsticks? Oh yes, he taught us how to use those!! Manchester lads using chopsticks. We were now cultured!!
  Ian was always fun to be around. I have fond, personal memories that i will cherish forever.
  When I became aware of Ians' illness, i spoke with my mother (Jeanette, Ian's sister), it broke our hearts. We were so far away.
  Having today watched the clip of Dominic, speaking about his father, I telephoned my mother. How much he is like Ian, I said. His mannerisms and the way he looks and speaks, i was amazed.
   Dominic is a credit to Ian and Veronica. A gentleman. Ian could not have wished for better, the way Dominic has turned out. A very proud father!
I am a better person, for knowing Ian, uncle Ian.
I will miss him.

Siew Yun and I are very sad to hear about Ian's passing. We convey our deepest condolence to Veronica and Dominic. Ian will always be remembered as a very special friend during our stay in Singapore.

Prof Ian, you were the brightest part of my 3rd year in NBS. Your wit was unparalleled, your commentary on world affairs sharp and incisive. In each 4 hour seminar session for just one semester, I felt like I learned more from you than in the rest of my years of university education. You are an indelible and precious memory in that 3-year university journey, and will continue to be so for the rest of my life.

My deepest condolences and prayers to your family.

Dear Prof Ian, wherever you are resting, may you be at peace.

Dear Prof Ian, thanks for being a mentor who was different, and taught us differently. The classes left an impact on us. Will always remember the learnings and apply them in life. Thank you.

Prof Ian inspired many batches of NBS Marketing students to think beyond our fluff and challenged us to be more analytical. While we may not have an answer to whether we should be selling bananas in Peru, we will always remember the candid and genuine discussions we had in class, and the 'dreadful' feeling each time we were being questioned by him. His legacy lives on, and it will be amplified by the many students whose lives have been touched by him.

Prof Ian
I enjoyed your lessons a lot and yours was perhaps the only one I paid attention to in NBS. I enjoyed it so much that i subsequently sought a job in IE and u helped make the necessary connections and recommendations. Later on, i went to India to work and i still remembered your advice and the lessons you gave. You played a very defining role in my career. Thanks for the guidance and your frank, witty humour and have for setting the bar very high for all of us.

Prof Ian was one of the prof that, if a class is at 8, it’s on right for us to reach by 7.55 to be on time; it’s almost always the “weirdest” countries for case studies; cappuccino without sugar for breaks; no phones during class. He was always there, somehow, ready with advice & sharing or worrying about the students, or his son, Dominic.
His passing felt surreal; we were just saying to catch up. Thanks for being Prof.
& honestly, I don’t understand why is Bangkok Jam one of the better Thai food in Sg.
//When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement.
-I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

It's with a very heavy heart that I am writing this.
We crossed path in 2014 when I was introduced to a whole new style of learning thanks to him. As a Finance student who spent most of my time calculating the value of a merger or analysing methods to maximise shareholders' value, it was not easy to adapt to his teaching style.
He posted numerous challenging questions each lesson. His notes were not comprehensive at all (well, you really had to think through and pen down your own notes along the way). Tough love, I would say. But that was what I love. Challenges. I still remember our project was about whether we should build NBS in Ho Chi Minh City. We prepared thoroughly for the QnA portion, even though we knew that it would never be enough. There was no way to smoke him through.
"Every year there are only four or five students I would recommend unreservedly, and this year Eunice is one of those students." As I reread his words for my testimonial, I am heartened that I made an impact on him as how he had made an impact in my life. I had the honour to meet him for lunch separately before I graduated. After graduation, I met him again and updated him about the happenings in my life. I did not initiate a meetup for roughly 2 years before I contacted him. His words to me were "wow, what a nice surprise. i thought i'd lost you forever." The last I saw him was April last year and we said we would catch up every year from then. But I guess I would never have this chance again.
Thank you for being a part of my memories, Prof Ian.
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
And I am pretty sure you will agree with me on that.

It was just not too long ago that we invited Prof Ian to our Class 1993 Reunion that happened in Nov 2018. The 1st batch of NTU Marketing cohort which he taught the final year (1992-1993). With his big smile he told me "...not sure if I will attend, I am not the sociable type." This is really too sudden... too soon. Prof Ian is the most humble, friendly and humorous ang mo Profs that we had. He did break my wrong perceptions of ang mo in my younger days. Even when I became a staff in NBS Prof Ian is still the faculty that we can easily approach and get his advice. He will be dearly missed.

Prof Ian is a dedicated and knowledgeable professor that truly left an impact on my uni education. What he taught years ago is still relevant today, and he was always telling the hard truths and pushing our limits during lessons. I will always remember his teachings, humour and genuineness.

Ian taught my classmates and I between 2001 and 2002. He was like the maverick at NBS, and reminded me of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. Ian's witty and interactive exchanges would spark my desire to go on and pursue an academic career, and when we met just over a year ago, realised that I was probably one of the rare few to be in this privileged position.
Many things have changed at NBS, but Ian was part of a team then who made a difference to my life, and I believe several others too.
May your legacy live on through your loved ones, friends and lives that you have impacted in more than two decades in Singapore.

My favourite lecturer of all times. Thanks for imparting knowledge whilst being funny at the same time. You'll be forever missed. Knowing that you are in a better place now with no pain nor sickness comforts me. And I pray that the Lord comforts the family in this difficult time. Rest assured that the separation is temporal but the reunion in heaven is sweet and eternal.

GMS was my favourite class because of Prof Ian - his class was not the easiest but the most intellectually challenging and interesting. He always challenged us to think more critically, challenge one another and he often offered perspectives that go beyond what textbooks can teach. He was funny, witty and a professor who really cared about his students and their development. There are not a lot of such professors around and I was lucky to be in his class. I am sure all his students would miss him and I hope he is in a better place now.

My Uncle Ian was an incredibly smart and witty man, with an inimitable sense of humour. He was also a brilliant cook, and the annual visit to Uncle Ian's and Aunty Veronica's to eat their amazing home-cooked meals was always one of the highlights of the year for me. Though he was not an overtly affectionate person, he had a way of making one feel loved, acknowledged and welcome in his presence. He was truly a great man and will be deeply missed.

Ian was an incredible man, so genuine and full of love. I admired him greatly for the support and guidance he provided his son and I, and I am thankful he was a part of my life. He will be missed dearly, and will always be in our hearts.

O Captain! My Captain! Rise up and hear the bells... Rise up, for you the flag is flung... For you the bugle trills...

In my memory, you are always friendly and humble. You will always say hi or how are you or just a small chat or crack a little joke at the doorway or staff lounge and this has gone on for so many years. Sad to know that you are longer around, I will surely miss you.

Prof Ian left a deep impression on me with his passion in passing his knowledge, as well as being super approachable.
I also enjoy chatting football with him and remember him as a passionate Man City fan who has been behind the team even during the not so glorious days.
Prof Ian will be deeply missed and is a great lost to the students of the faculty.

Prof Ian was my bm213 international marketing module tutor as well as my final year project tutor. He was firm in his standards yet very approachable and caring in personal. I once saw him a few years back in NTU during a convocation ceremony and after years he still remembers his students by name. We have lost a great teacher, a coach and a mentor.

Prof Ian had a great impact to my life. He challenged us back then saying that Singaporeans are too comfortable to venture overseas. I took up the challenge and signed up for the WorkAsia programme by Singapore International Foundation in 1994.
By some divine intervention, I got selected (after someone "dropped out") to go to Hong Kong on a 8-week internship with Taipan Bread & Cakes and subsequently signed on and stayed for 2.5 years. The stint allowed me to be adaptable working in different countries and cultures, which was useful when I took up a one-year posting to Vietnam years later with Mediacorp.
Now that I'm teaching adjunct at the polytechnics, I am reminded on the impact that I can have on my students... just like how Prof Ian had impacted me. It is a privilege that must be handled with care and I hope I am able to live up to Prof Ian's standards.
Rest in peace, Prof Ian.

Ian was my office neighbor and used to be my house neighbor as well. I'm going to miss our good old days when we sipped wine and talked until passing midnight.

May you rest in peace.

We have lost a committed educator and wonderful colleague. Ian loved teaching and interacting with his students. Will miss him for his wonderful sense of humor, perspectives on various matters and his friendship since 1992. It has been a privilege knowing you Ian!.

I will miss all the long conversations I have had with Ian in his corner office in section C. RIP, Ian.

We will truly miss Ian and his dry wit. He was a great and supportive colleague. Still can't quite believe he has left us so soon but he will always stay in our hearts and memories.

Ian,
    How well I remember the special times, as we were raised side by side, sharing good times, sharing bad.
Words cannot express how much you will be missed. Although we were far away in distance, you were never far away in our thoughts.
  We are all extremely proud of your achievements and Dominic who will follow in your footsteps.
It's a comfort knowing you're now back with Mum and Dad.
Until we meet again Ian, I feel that you'll always be with me.
  Love your Baby sister Jeanette and Family xxxx

I had the privilege of having wonderful conversations with Ian whenever we met in the staff lounge or at NBS events. I will forever remember his acerbic wit and good advice. Thank you, Ian. May you rest In peace and may God’s eternal light shine upon you. To Ian‘s family, please accept my deepest condolences.

Thank you prof Ian. I enjoyed your lessons very much and thought your lessons were the most practical because other than imparting knowledge, you gave us lessons of life. It’s true, prof Ian great sense of humour made his lessons notch higher than the rest. Thank you for some advices that I have asked before, guiding us along in the world of marketing. Your dedication towards us will never be forgotten