The telecommunications expert Gladwyn Bean, who introduced the Reuters news service to Bermuda and retired to become a well-known taxi owner operator, has died at the age of 65.

Mr Bean’s wife, Judith Hall-Bean, a senior civil servant who was the assistant Cabinet Secretary, remembered her husband yesterday as a “gentleman” and a “giant of a man”.

She explained Mr Bean, who was known affectionately as “Beanie” excelled academically, from his earliest schooling at Mrs Tankard’s Pre-Nursery School at Joell’s Alley when he was just two and a half, to his scholastic career at Central School, now Victor Scott, which she described as pivotal to his quest for learning.

“The Bermuda Technical Institute was even more pivotal to his development and ultimate career. This was the genesis and backdrop for what would be his life’s pattern as a telecommunications expert.

“It was there that he learned the importance of being disciplined and well-groomed. It was there that he learned how to be a ‘gentleman’. He treated others as he wanted to be treated. He took the high road at all times. No one could ever say that this giant of a man was a ‘bully’. Even if he was angry with you, this anger was displayed in a quiet and calm manner.”

At the Bermuda Technical Institute he gained twelve GCE ‘O’ levels by the age of 16, and then he went on to The Cable & Wireless Training Facility College in Cornwall, in the UK. “His memorable and storied service as a Telecommunications Technician at Cable and Wireless would span some 25 years,” said Mrs Hall-Bean. He also trained in Germany and Barbados for the Cable & Wireless firm.

Mr Bean undertook military service during this time. “During his tenure in the Bermuda Regiment in the early 1970s he was a dedicated soldier and was an enthusiastic member of their football team,” his wife added.

After his career with Cable & Wireless, he became the first general manager of Reuters Bermuda. “The company supplies financial news services to numerous businesses on the Island, including the banks, insurance firms and several exempted companies. Reuters also provides news and photographic services to print media on the Island.

“He actually spearheaded the introduction of Reuters to the Bermuda community, and was responsible for its successful entry into the Island.

“Following his employment with Reuters, ‘Beanie’ was employed by several communications companies in Bermuda, such as the Bermuda Telephone Company, TBI and Gateway, and then returned to Cable & Wireless.

“His career spanned several areas of telecommunications, which I would venture to say made him an expert in the field. He loved telecommunications, especially the mathematical aspect of the field. He was a mathematical genius. Even when his lengthy illness made it difficult for him to express himself, if he was presented with a math problem, he would immediately and without hesitation solve it right down to the decimal points.”

Ms Hall-Bean explained that when he retired from the telecommunications field, he purchased two taxis and became a taxi-owner operator. “This person, who was quiet and unassuming, actually took on a role which required him to be very communicative. He was a leader and as a business owner, he readily took on the role of becoming aggressive in order to sell his Island home to the tourists with whom he interacted.

“He owned Taxi 1160 until his untimely death,” she said.

“Gladwyn was a well-rounded man, who among other things loved sports, especially deep sea fishing, football, cricket and golf. Even though by his own admission, he was not very good at golf, and would be seasick the whole time he was on a fishing trip, he continued to participate in both sports. Gladwyn travelled to the West Indies several times to watch his favourite team, the West Indies, play cricket against such countries as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England.”

Mr Bean served on the executive of the North Village Community Club, the Bermuda Football Association and as President of the Bermuda Amateur Boxing Association. During his tenure heading up the Boxing Association, he spearheaded a fund raising effort through a rugby “fight night” to promote the sport in the Island’s schools. “His plan was to ensure that the funds were utilised to develop the sport more in Bermuda. He embarked on a campaign to introduce boxing into the school sports curriculum and to investigate students’ interests,” she said.

Ms Hall-Bean explained her husband was also instrumental in introducing the taxi dispatching system on the Island. “He served as president of the Bermuda Central Dispatching Corporation. The proposal was to be the first to market computerised dispatching systems in operations,” she said.

“The thrill of his life was to play golf for several years with the professionals at the Masters Golf Tournament at the Port Royal Golf Course. He loved to watch tennis, and he really enjoyed watching Serena Williams at Wimbledon in London in 2011. We had centre-court seats, second row. He was so proud; he used to tell anyone who would listen how much he enjoyed that experience.

“But the one thing he loved even more passionately was playing poker. If Gladwyn went on a cruise or to Las Vegas with our dear friends the Rawlins, we knew that we would not see Gladwyn all night. He would be at the poker table. Fortunately, he was too frugal to lose all of his money, and knew when to stop. When he reached his quota, he came back to the room where he stayed until the next day when he would accompany me on my usual shopping expeditions, grumbling all the way. He would then resume his seat at the poker table thereafter.

“Gladwyn’s mathematical skills obviously assisted him in this regard,” she said.

Ms Hall-Bean said: “The devotion and service he brought to his public-facing life was mirrored in his private-facing life.” He was a devoted and loyal husband, father, relative and friend, and she added his greatest joy was his two sons, Cory and Andre, and his grandchildren. “He loved to tell people how many grandchildren he had — all of them. He loved to take the children on outings, even when he was not feeling up to par.

“I know they will all miss him.”

She added that her husband had been “extremely proud” of his sons, especially when they achieved academic success. “It was then that he was at his happiest. Cory’s success as a trader and Andre’s recent achievement of a law degree made him extremely proud.

“He loved his sons unconditionally. But more than that, the way in which his sons performed their “fatherly” duties and took care of their respective families, gave him great comfort. Because above all, he wanted his sons to be good citizens, and good fathers, as he was to them.”

Funeral arrangements are to be announced.