FORMER Singapore Science Centre chief Chia Woon Kim, who died in his sleep in China last Friday at age 64, had two great loves - his work and his family.

Immersed in projects in China for a decade, he was at the time overseeing a steel flanges factory as its general manager.

Back here though, he was known as the man behind the science centre's popular Omni Theatre.

Dr Chia was with the centre from 1985 to 1995, and headed the place in his last four years there. He joined Fort Canning Country Club as its general manager, but left to undertake projects in China in 1997. He was to return here for his next project by year's end.

The younger of his two sons, Sin Kar, 33, a sales coordinator who also works in China, said his father drew satisfaction from seeing projects from start to finish.

He said: 'He finds joy doing work. When he's working, he's happy.'

Professor Leo Tan from the National Institute of Education, whose tenure as director of the science centre overlapped with Dr Chia's time there, paid tribute to his 'commitment and dedication'.

Current science centre chief Chew Tuan Chiong also lauded Dr Chia's role in setting up and running the Omni Theatre, saying that 'it was, and probably still is, a wonderful facility for our visitors'.

Away from work, Dr Chia clearly put his family first, and had a soft, loving side. No matter how busy he was in China, he kept in touch with his wife, retired school teacher Wang Seow Jiau, 64, thrice a day by phone or text messages.

She recalled that two days before he died, he sent her a text message: 20.08.2008 was their 37th wedding anniversary.

Back here earlier this month, they went shopping for an anniversary gift for her. The white-gold bracelet he bought her is now, sadly, his last gift. The couple had met in 1964 at the then Nanyang University, where they were biology students. They married in 1971.

Madam Wang, speaking in Mandarin, said of her soul mate: 'He was like my walking dictionary and my best friend.'

He was a best friend too, to dogs, having had six dogs over the years. Madam Wang recalled fondly that he had planned on getting a bull terrier - her favourite breed of dog - for his retirement years.

Dr Chia's body will leave Singapore Casket today at 10.15am for Mandai, where he will be cremated at 11.15am.