Brother Ultan Paul Rosario was born Robert Malcolm Rosario on November 28, 1920 in Henzada, Burma (now Myanmar). He was given the name Brother Ultan Paul after donning the Lasallian robe. His father was Goanese while his mother was of Goanese and Dutch extraction. He had a brother, Len, and a sister, Margaret. The family was originally rooted in Goa, India but at some point, his father was posted to Henzada (now Hinthada) as the head of telecommunications there.

He was educated at the well-known St Paul’s High School in Rangoon (now Yangon) where his teachers included Brother Basil Voon, a former pupil of St Michael’s Institution, Ipoh. It was Brother Basil who suggested that Paul become a Brother. However, he kept putting it off until he was 14 and decided to give it a try. 

Paul then came to Penang and joined the juniorate programme at St Joseph’s Training College (Novitiate) at Pulau Tikus. That was a decisive step in becoming a Brother. As a Lasallian brother, he had to undertake the sacred vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. He also disavowed any salary throughout his entire dedicated career.^[1]

In 1939, some months short of his 19th birthday, the freshly trained young Brother Paul arrived at St Michael’s Institution (SMI). And so a fruitful and happy association with the school which was to last more than 60 years.  

When he arrived, the SMI hall was under construction, along with the laboratories overhead, the chapel and the Brothers’ quarters. Little did he suspect that in just a few years, with the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the school would become the headquarters of the Japanese administration for Perak. The hall became the treasury, the chapel became the state council chamber and the Japanese governor took up residence in the Brothers’ quarters.                                                                      

The war years saw total dislocation — the school ceased to function, the Brothers were scattered, and some were imprisoned. Brother Paul was transferred to Kuala Lumpur where he was allowed to join the special language classes to qualify to teach in Japanese. This he did, thanks to his expertise with languages.

After the war, he returned to SMI where, over the next few years, the school stretched its resources to the limit to cope with a huge influx of new students. Again, Brother Paul was not only involved in the brick and mortar of new extensions which completed the grand façade of the main block but also in building a vibrant and enduring Michaelian spirit. The first batch of graduating post-war students in 1946 did exceptionally well. St Michael’s was like the proverbial phoenix rising from its ashes.

During those years, Brother Paul would teach in the classroom, coach the students on the playing field, help with stage productions and take part in the many school activities which formed part of the school’s tradition. As soon as the opportunity presented itself,  he took study leave and attended lectures in Singapore for his London BA degree, which he later obtained with honours. He also obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of Reading, UK.

After brief periods as a sub-director at St Xavier’s Institution in Penang and St Paul’s in Seremban, he was appointed director of SMI in January 1961, to the joy of his many friends there. He was principal for more than 20 years from 1961-1971 and from 1975-1985. He held the record as the longest serving headmaster of SMI.

The multi-talented principal’s return to SMI signalled one of the great periods of growth for the school in every field of endeavour, notably in studies, stage productions and sports. As the soccer master, he inspired his team to many victories. He also played the double bass for the school orchestra and staged several highly acclaimed plays. Through his strong support, the Scout troop and Interact Club emerged among the best in the country.

Brother Paul created a culture of international-mindedness. Under him, St Michael’s moulded young people in virtuous living and the spirit of service above self. Debating and drama thrived in the city of Ipoh, thanks in part to the role of St Michael’s in nurturing this tradition. Brother Paul stood for multi-faith togetherness and multiculturalism. He was greatly admired not just by Christians but by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists — people of all faiths. He practiced the tradition of St Francis of Assisi in promoting the dialogue of faith through social action.

Brother Paul was a scholarly man, a serious reader, well versed in Latin and English literature, and a lifelong student of languages. He taught Latin so well that he earned rare praises from Her Majesty's School Inspectors in 1954. He was not only fluent in English and Malay but was also a French scholar and a lifelong learner of Mandarin, Hindi and Tamil. He once had his letter read out over Radio 4 in Kota Kinabalu, clarifying the meaning of the word “panjandrum”— a word that had puzzled an earlier listener and one that most people would not have in their vocabulary, but which he did, typically!^[2] During the war, his command of Japanese helped him to defuse several potential incidents involving his captors and colleagues.

Brother Paul’s favourite poem was “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost:

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep 

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.”

Beyond his wonderful endowments of mind and heart was a profoundly spiritual man, a man who spent long hours in personal time before God. It was from this contact with a personal God that he drew energy and insight to be present to people so effectively.

His dedication and personal touch left an indelible impression on all Michaelians (SMI students).

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd chief executive officer and SMI alumnus Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian said Brother Paul was a role model he admired. “He was so full of love, compassion and was always ready to help others.”^[3]

Gary Lit Ying Loong, a former SMI head prefect, in a tribute published in the New Straits Times in memory of Brother Paul, said, “What was most endearing about Brother Paul was his ‘heart to heart’ talk with each and every student. He would enquire about our family, hobbies and ambition. He would read and mark the personal reflection of everyone, which was a gargantuan task.

“As a school prefect, I remember how Brother Paul's warm smile and silent gaze would chasten, but not chastise, any errant student. They would immediately sober up and lower down their heads. His dignified presence would instantly calm down any unruly or boisterous behaviour. It was an emphatic demonstration of his formidable ‘soft power’.”^[4]

Major (R) Datuk Salehuddin Mutalib recounted: "I came from a large and poor family. Brother Paul helped to pay for my school fees and even bought food for me. He also gave me daily tuition after school.”^[5]

In April 2000, Brother Paul was hospitalised for about 10 days due to increasing attacks of intense nerve pain of neuralgia and related problems. He passed away on April 18 at Fatimah Hospital Ipoh, just months short of his 80th birthday. The funeral service took place in St Michael’s Institution hall on April 20, followed by a procession through the streets of Ipoh where almost the entire city turned out to bid him farewell. There was an unprecedented and spontaneous outpouring of emotion for a true gentleman and dedicated leader.^[6] He was interred in the Catholic Cemetery in Tambun.

Brother Vincent Corkery, longtime confidant and comrade of Brother Paul, in his eulogy at Brother Paul’s funeral, said, “His gift was for people. All who came to him found ready welcome and the assurance of being fully understood, of being affirmed in their unique dignity and identity. Programmes, projects, his attention to administrative detail and even putting up buildings never took priority over persons. His door was always open to students, teachers, parents, even important people in public life… With him confidentiality was absolute, and people knew this… One winning trait was his regular comment: Can I help you in any way? He always made himself available to people, with never a thought for his own comfort or convenience. Personal convenience never entered into his calculations, often missing out on his regular meal or needful rest.

"Brother Paul was a saint who lived among us. A candle that burnt itself to give light to our world. He began every assembly with the words, “Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.” He concluded every letter or written message with: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God). He not merely spoke these words. He lived by them.”^[7]

Tan Sri Lee shared a biblical quote at the funeral: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." The fruit from Brother Paul Ultan’s life and service continue to be seen in the many whose lives he touched.