Be the Pebble in the Pond — The Malcolm Ranjore Story

by Philip Malcolm

I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are We like fixing things and holding mama's hand Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad I wanna do everything you do So I've been watching you –- Watching You, by Rodney Atkins

▲ Malcolm here doing what he did, pulling on the heart strings of the people around him!

“Don’t ‘do or die’; always do and then die!” That was how Thomas Malcolm Ranjore, — born on September 7, 1940, — lived his life until it was time for him to meet his Creator on June 20, 2025. It was a long and arduous battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia along with other co-morbidities that finally brought him to the end of his remarkable and prolific life.

▲ He was the James Dean of Madras, way cool as seen here.

Malcolm, as he always wanted to be known (not as Thomas as the apostle was a “doubter”)

was born in Madras, to a large family of ten siblings. At the age of ten, he learned the violin simply to be able to support the family as it was challenging to make ends meet.

As time continued on, he came into contact with a Scottish minister, Rev. Theodore Mathieson, who would later give Malcolm a violin that became his main instrument the rest of his life. Little did Malcolm know that this instrument, or should I say Father Mathieson’s gesture, would change the trajectory of his life and generations to come. This instrument would solidify the Malcolm sound and become his trademark.

Armed with this instrument he pursued his music and became an accomplished musician. As it was difficult to make a living as classical musician in Madras, he played in Tamil and Malayalam movies under noted music directors M.S. Visvanadhan and K.V. Mahadevan. But his heart yearned to play classical western music — especially quartet and chamber works. This led to him rounding up musicians who longed to play in a chamber orchestra setting but lacked the opportunity. In doing this Malcolm founded the Madras Chamber Orchestra in the late 60’s. At the time it was the only professional, functioning Chamber Orchestra that was dedicated to playing western classical music in India.

However, a key aspect of Malcolm is he would never let anyone go hungry. Feeding the needy and the poverty stricken was something that I grew up seeing and it made a profound impact in my life. Every Christmas, Easter, and any other opportunity was a chance to feed people who would otherwise have no food. They would come, have a meal, and take home food for the rest of their family. This was Malcolm’s heart. It could be said that these were the seeds for the birthing of Restoration Humanity that was sown in his very early days.

In 1969 on January 27, he married the love of his, Sheila, who would later prove to be not just a pebble but a boulder on which he could stand on, through thick or thin, rich or poor, till death did them part. They had 3 children, Philip, John and Felicia, to round out the entire family.

 ▲ Malcolm and Sheila were married on January 27, 1969.

Then, in 1980, during one of the rehearsals with the Madras Chamber Orchestra, as Malcolm was practicing his etudes, there appeared a man by the name of Alex Abisheganaden. From Singapore, he was visiting Madras to scout for musicians to pioneer the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Serendipitously, he approached Malcolm after the rehearsal to find out if he would be interested in joining the Singapore Symphony Orchestra — which would mean he would need to fly to Singapore to audition for a place in the orchestra.

▲ This was the article that the Indian Express wrote on the only Indian violininst/musician to ever play with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra to this day.

Remember the “do and then die?” This was something Malcolm just wanted to do! In about 6 months after hours and hours of practicing and saving up, he made it to the audition in Singapore. He was asked to join the orchestra that very day. He would move then his entire family to Singapore in 1982. This move changed everything for his entire family.

Later on in March of 1990, in Singapore, Malcolm, met Larry Neville. Through Larry Neville, Malcolm made a commitment to Jesus. This would further define who Malcolm was and determined who he would become. Through this commitment he made it his life’s mission to be useful and never “useless” — his words — wherever he went!

Malcolm taught violin and music at various schools, churches, and to individual students. He had students who had been with him as a family learning the violin for over 30 years, the Mohamad Nasir Family — Imran, Zafir, Faiz and Arman. Yet another family learnt from him for about 20 years — the Yesiah family, Shane and Samantha, just to name a few.

One of his oldest students, Lily Ong, was 82 years old when she stopped playing the violin would often gripe about Malcolm, saying, “why does Malcolm always make me practice?”

He was not just a violin teacher. He was a mentor to many; whether it was through music, the violin, being a friend, or just by having a cup of coffee.

The one thing that stood out about Malcolm was that he genuinely cared for people. Whether it was a taxi driver, someone who was standing next to you at the train station, or if it was someone he met while he had coffee or a neighbor. There was a genuine care and a concern about the well-being of their life and their family. Within minutes of sitting down and talking to them, the people just start talking about all their high points and low points in life. Such was the magnetism he possessed, especially when it came to relating to people. He would end up buying food or coffee just because that's who he was. People were naturally drawn to him because of his genuine care for their lives.

In March 2019 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia. This steamroller slowed him down and eventually brought his life to a close. This also prevented him from doing what he loved to do most that wants to teach and to mentor young kids in and through music — namely the violin.

In 2023 in the midst of the challenges a new addition to the family appeared. Nancy came as someone who would help Malcolm and she through these very difficult and extenuating circumstances, much to the objection of Malcolm saying that he did not need any help. Later on a year later, he would say Nancy came as a domestic helper, but she is my daughter now. It was a surreal and a meaningful moment for the entire family.

In the midst of the dreariness that surrounded dad’s battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia, he was able to witness the birth of John Alexander Camizzi (JAC), who was born to Abigail and Anthony, John and Valerie’s daughter and son in law. That made Malcolm a Great Grandpa and John a Grandpa!

During this struggle which lasted a little more that 5 years, Malcolm was hospitalized for extended periods of time. Things worsened and eventually in 2025, the deterioration was too drastic. Finally he passed away at his home in Singapore, on the morning of June 20, 2025 at 10:03am. It was a difficult five years of struggle. But the best part was that he took it with so much grace, strength and patience, never losing his cool and composure.

During his lucid moments, it was clear that his mind remained sharp, and he consistently inquired about the well-being of anyone who visited him at the hospital.

As it would aptly be, Malcolm was surrounded by the 3 people that gave him the best of care that money cannot buy — his girlfriend, wife and friend of 56 years, Sheila, his daughter who had been taking care of him, his baby girl, Felicia, and his new found daughter, Nancy. He was surrounded by love, care, concern, and commitment as he drew his last breath. It was fitting for Malcolm, he would've had it no other way.

The wake and the memorial was filled with stories that talked about a life not just well-lived but also impacted everyone that he was around with.

The Memorial service and the Internment:  https://youtu.be/h4Sr9AP37dQ?feature=shared

Remembering Uncle Malcolm:  http://ramajeya03.blogspot.com/2025/07/remembering-uncle-thomas-malcolm.html

Remember the violin that came from Calcutta, it was given to Isaiah Malcolm (Malcolm’s grandson) to continue the legacy of his instrument, of his guidance and of his mentorship. Many times I wonder, "What if this instrument could talk?" It went from Italy to Scotland to Calcutta to Madras to Singapore and then to the United States, the stories it could tell…

So having said all, now it boils down to what I would have to do about it. I have always wanted to be like dad, he was the strongest man I knew, the toughest, the hardest and the most kind and compassionate on at the same time. He was my John Wayne in True Grit, yes Rooster Cogburn! He was an example in many ways on how to be human. Dad was a size 10 but the footprint that he left behind is a very large one. The violin did not define him, but it was the vehicle through which he touched people’s life in ways unimaginable by the music he created.

After he had passed away we had to close things out at a senior care center. The employees had one thing to say about him, “Mr. Malcolm did not say much but when he played the violin, his music touched our lives.” I recall Malcolm saying that it didn't matter what you played on the violin—whether it was sacred music, a Beethoven sonata, "Twinkle Twinkle," or anything else—if you don't touch the hearts of people, don't play it.

The mark he left behind is a road map on how to live hard, work hard, play hard, and love hard. With dad it was do it or don’t but more often — just do it! He leaves a deposit of principles on how to live, but live it to the hilt.

Malcolm was a pebble in many ponds, and each time he sparked a change, he influenced future generations. As far as Malcolm was concerned he just was an ordinary man living and ordinary life. I know my family I stand on some very broad and sturdy shoulders.

Would like to leave you with a quote from one of Malcolm’s — one of dad’s favorite movies —Gladiator.

What we do in life echoes in eternity! — famously spoken by Maximus in the movie Gladiator

Malcolm’s life here on earth has concluded. The legacy, his impact and his music is still alive and present with all of us who came in contact with him one way or another.

Malcolm is my dad, my hero, my mentor and my back bone. I wanna be like you, dad. Love you, dad.

Thank you for being a part of this inspiring journey!

If you would like to know more: more.info@rhlife.org

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