Joseph Dufresse Chang

Brother Joseph Dufresse Chang She Dien (; 21 November 1927 – 4 July 2021) was a prominent Catholic educator in Singapore. He arrived in the country in 1950 and began teaching at the Catholic High School. He was appointed the school's headmaster in 1960, and continued to serve in this post until 1974.

Early life and education Chang was born in Beijing, China, on 21 November 1927. His family had been Catholic for several generations. In 1940, he joined the Juniorate of the Marist Brothers there. He entered the Novitiate in 1947, making his first profession the year after and entering the Scholasticate in 1948. and in 1949, he left for the United States, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree and learnt to speak French. succeeding Brother Marcellin Sheng, whose tenure as headmaster had been brief. Sheng, who had only assumed the post the year before, had resigned due to his involvement in a road accident that had led to the death of Brother Liang Houxiang; he had been driving three Brothers of the school to Port Dickson while on holiday when heavy rain caused him to crash into a ditch in Muar, resulting in the drowning of Liang, who had fallen asleep in the car. The school's board of directors then appointed Chang as Sheng's successor as an "emergency decision".

As the headmaster, Chang had a "key role in turning [CHS] into one of the best Chinese-medium schools." Other students of CHS under Chang's tenure as principal included architect Chng Beng Guan, According to Lim Yean Leng, he remains "the most respected headmaster Catholic High School has ever had till this day." However, it was decided in 1998 that the funds would be awarded to "top primary school pupils" as scholarships instead. This was to help address the school's academic performance, which had declined in the past half a decade; CHS had slipped from 11th to 19th place in the national schools ranking from 1992 to 1996.

Personal life and death Chang was "penniless" due to his devotion to the church. He was musically inclined, being certified by the ABRSM and the Trinity College London. He was the choirmaster at CHS and would "share his musical knowledge enthusiastically" with the school band. He could play the violin, piano, organ, harmonica and trumpet. In addition to English, Chinese and French, Chang was also fluent in Italian and Latin.

Shortly after arriving in Singapore for the first time, a tumour was found in Chang's lung and he then underwent a successful surgical operation. After Rome, Chang returned to Singapore and was residing at the convent at 15 Flower Lane by 1996. He continued to engage in translation work on occasion. In June 2021, his health declined suddenly and he was hospitalised for 10 days. He died in his sleep on 4 July. The funeral was held at the Church of The Immaculate Heart of Mary three days after and he was then cremated at the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium.