SINGAPORE — When Reverend Simon Neo opened Breakthrough Cafeteria in 2007 to hire reformed drug addicts to help them get back on their feet, he did not expect the late Richard Magnus to be one of his regular customers. 

Magnus, who was chairman of the Public Transport Council (PTC) and had five decades of experience in the public service, died at the age of 77 on Tuesday (March 14). The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.