He is survived by his wife, Fakhitah Darus; two sons, Azmi and Azlan; and five grandchildren.

“My father was a respected academic and an outstanding university administrator,” said Azmi, the deputy Election Commission chairman.

“But to us, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was adored by those close to him,” he told FMT.

Sharom, who was born in September 1939, was known for his work as a historian and for a long career in higher education, including key leadership roles at USM.

He graduated with first-class honours in history from the University of Singapore in 1962, becoming the first Malay to achieve the distinction there.

He later earned a master’s degree in American history from Brown University in Rhode Island, US, and a doctorate in Southeast Asian history from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in 1969.

He began his academic career at the University of Singapore in 1963 as an assistant lecturer in history, before rising to become a senior lecturer and deputy dean of arts and social sciences.

In 1973, he joined USM as a professor of history and dean of humanities. He later became the university’s first deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs in 1975, and also held senior positions in academic affairs as well as research and development.

Former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon said he first got to know Sharom when he worked at USM from 1975 to 1982.

Koh told FMT that Sharom was “a soft-spoken, perfect gentleman with a very sharp mind, yet very humble and helpful”, describing him as a dedicated educator who made a meaningful impact.

Koh added that after leaving USM, Sharom was appointed on a pro bono basis to head a community centre in George Town, overseeing its development and the allocation of facilities.

He later became the first chief executive officer of the Wawasan Education Foundation in 2002, helping oversee the development of Wawasan Open University and Disted College.

“His contributions to USM, Disted and WOU were tremendous and will always be remembered,” Koh said.

Former Penang Heritage Trust president Choong Sim Poey said Sharom had long supported efforts to build a more united and integrated multicultural society.

Choong said they had also worked together on a small fund to support NGOs involved in education and multicultural integration.

“Sharom supported the vision of a more united and integrated multicultural society that we sought to build,” he said.

Penang Forum’s Lim Mah Hui described Sharom – a Penang Forum steering committee member – as “a model human being” who had “contributed immensely” to society, adding that he admired his humility, integrity and sincerity.

Apart from his administrative work, Sharom was also known for his scholarly work, especially on Kedah’s history and Kedah-Siam relations.

Funeral prayers and burial are expected to take place today between 4.30pm and 5pm at Masjid Jamek Sungai Gelugor.