Professor of Electrical Engineering, Professor Toebagus M Soelaiman, Passes Away

During his lifetime, he was known as one of the founders of the Salman Mosque at ITB, along with Achmad Noeman, Achmad Sadali, and Ajat Sudrajat. He was born on May 5, 1926, in Jakarta and dedicated himself to ITB since being appointed as a lecturer in 1955 and retiring on June 1, 1991.

The deceased passed away at the age of 92. He once served as Head of the Laboratory of the Department of Electrical Engineering at ITB. One of the books he wrote was "Berkawan Matahari" (Friend of the Sun), written in 2003. In addition to ITB, he also served as the Education and Cultural Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC.

Before being buried, the deceased was first prayed for at the Salman Mosque of ITB and the release of the body was carried out in the West Hall of ITB on Monday (11/2/2019) morning by ITB Chancellor Prof. Kadarsah Suryadi along with all academic community. Also present at the release of the body were the Chancellor of Unisba, previous ITB Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and all ITB academic community and the deceased's family. The deceased was buried in the Cibarunai cemetery.

Dean of STEI-ITB, Dr. Jaka Sembiring, expressed his deep condolences for the passing of the teacher and parent at STEI-ITB. In his remarks, he also provided a brief history of the deceased's career.

During the independence period, he began teaching mathematics and physics at several private and public junior high schools. He also wrote books and opened a language course in 1945.

In 1949, he wrote a book on physics and received a scholarship from India's Bengal Engineering College, Calcutta University. In 1955, he earned an M.Sc. EE degree from Lehigh University and became a lecturer at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Meanwhile, the Chancellor of ITB in his speech said that ITB has really lost one of its true teachers and whom we really respect. “We are here to pay our last respects by releasing the body, as a form of respect and appreciation for the deceased's service, devotional dharma, and devotion to ITB, the state and nation during his lifetime,” said the Chancellor.

"On this occasion, on behalf of the ITB family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the deceased's extended family. May Allah SWT accept their good deeds and forgive all their sins. May the deceased receive the best and noblest place in the sight of God Almighty," he said.

From the deceased's family, represented by Tubagus Ahmad Mutawakkil, expressed his deepest gratitude to the ITB family for paying their final respects to the deceased before his burial. According to him, the deceased was a father who always raised his children very well until the end of his life. "Even though he was sick, he remained enthusiastic and gave a glimmer of a smile. Those things are what make us eager to care for him," he said.