Stamford Tyres founder Wee Kok Wah dies at 78 after battle with kidney failure

Stamford Tyres founder Wee Kok Wah helmed the company since the 1970s

Mr Wee Kok Wah, founder of homegrown tyre and wheel supply and service provider Stamford Tyres, has died at the age of 78.

His passing was announced “with great sadness” by the company in a Facebook post on Tuesday (22 Oct).

Stamford Tyres founder passed away on 21 Oct

An obituary posted by the company indicated that Mr Wee passed away on Monday (21 Oct).

He leaves behind his wife, son, two daughters, two sons-in-law, a sister and two granddaughters.

The wake at Ewart Park will be held till Saturday (26 Oct), after which there will be a cremation on Sunday (27 Oct).

Stamford Tyres founder took the helm in the 1970s

According to his profile on the company’s website, Mr Wee was formerly managing director and president of Stamford Tyres for close to 50 years since the 1970s.

He took over the helm from his father, who founded the company’s first incarnation as Stamford Motor Service, a petrol pump service station and tyre retail shop, in the 1930s.

Mr Wee then expanded the business, steering it to a public listing in 1991.

He stepped down from the board in November 2021 but remained as a Senior Advisor.

He renewed his wedding vows in 2023

About two years after stepping down, Mr Wee renewed his wedding vows with his wife Dawn on their 53rd anniversary, reported The Straits Times (ST).

The event, held in September 2023, took place in a church as Mrs Wee had “always wanted a church wedding”.

The ceremony was then followed by a dinner party at Tower Club.

The couple’s first wedding dinner in 1970 was held at the company’s tyre retreading plant in Kallang.

They had planned to renew their vows on their 50th anniversary in 2020, but the groom had to be hospitalised because he broke his hip and the Covid-19 pandemic followed.

He suffered from kidney failure

Indeed, Mr Wee has had recent health issues, and was suffering from kidney failure.

Though he had been looking for a transplant, he still spent half a day in the office, according to ST.

The other half of his day was spent in a hospital dialysis centre.

Mr Wee had ‘absolutely no airs’

Former ST Senior Correspondent Christopher Tan, who reported on motoring and transport, has paid tribute to Mr Wee.

In a post on his LinkedIn profile seen by MS News on Tuesday, he said the company honcho was “easy-going and straight-talking”, and had “absolutely no airs”.

Unlike those honed in PR skills, he came across as “genuine”, “warm and sincere” and always had a ready smile — “the kind of guy you want to have a drink with”, Mr Tan added.

When the reporter got to know Mr Wee as a friend in recent years, he found that he loved talking about business, loved food and also loved “a good party with a live band”. On those occasions, he would also take the mic and sing.

That’s why Mr Tan said he will miss him, along with “many, many, many friends”, after his sudden passing, adding:

Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Also read: Famous Amos cookies creator Wally Amos dies aged 88

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Featured image adapted from Stamford Tyres and Stamford Tyres Retail Singapore on Facebook.