His sister Ambimathe said Sugu, as he was fondly known in the industry, leaves behind his wife Michele Lebibi Althaus and two children.
She said he contracted Covid-19 on July 25 and had been warded until he was discharged on Tuesday after a full recovery.
“He told his wife that he felt tired. He was resting and listening to Frank Sinatra songs when he passed away peacefully at 3.30pm,” she told FMT.
Sugumaran, known for his highly popular “Sugu on Sunday” column in The Star in the ’70s and ’80s, had an illustrious career, having worked in all local newspapers as an editor.
He first made his mark as a journalist with the Straits Times, which he joined in 1966, before becoming the pioneer news editor of The Star when it launched in 1971. He then left the tabloid and rejoined NST for a short stint before returning to The Star.
After The Star was shut down during the Ops Lallang in 1987, he spent some time in a monastery in Penang before moving to Bangkok to work for The Nation for several years where he met his wife. After returning to Malaysia, he worked with The Sun.
He then went on to be a sub-editor and columnist at Malaysiakini until he decided to take a break from journalism about 10 years ago.
Ambimathe said Sugumaran always kept abreast of the happenings in the world, and left an indelible mark among younger journalists whom he helped train while being an editor in the media outlets he had worked for.
His brother, Gurunathan, who is currently the mayor of Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, said he was devastated by Sugumaran’s passing.
“I worked under him and knew him to be a kind and compassionate person, but a firm taskmaster who always ensured that journalists stuck to their facts.
“He had the uncanny ability to bring the best out of those he supervised,” he told FMT.
“At just 5ft 2in, he was an intellectual giant. He was a strong influence on me to pursue my studies and my own journey to becoming a journalist.”
Sugumaran’s remains will be cremated at the Sendayan Crematorium tomorrow according to Buddhist rites.