Friends and family of Benny Sousa, who has passed away at the age of 92, have paid tribute to his warm heart and business brain.

Despite leaving school, where he was roundly teased for his stutter, at the age of 10, Mr Sousa went on to become a self-made millionaire.

“One could write a book about Benny. Everyone he came into contact with has a story to tell,” said Linda Sousa, his wife.

One of seven children, Mr Sousa was born in Warwick on June 28, 1923. He contributed to the family coffers in his youth by doing odd jobs, from working in a grocery store to picking up golf balls.

At 17, he joined the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps, where a friend named Norman Moniz taught him how to read.

After transferring to the Royal Army Service Corps, he left the service in 1946 as a Corporal.

When someone asked him what he planned next, Mr Sousa replied: “I want to make a million dollars and I want to own my own building.”

Talking to The Royal Gazette in November 2015, he recalled how quickly he achieved the latter.

“During my service, the Royal Army Service Corps gave me money for meals,” he said.

“But I still went back to the barracks to eat for free and saved the money. I built my first house when I came out, with every cent paid for.”

While living at Struggle Farm, where he raised five children with his first wife, Phyllis, Mr Sousa became one of Bermuda’s first taxi drivers, before setting his eyes on property development. Success and wealth followed, thanks to ventures including Sousa Estates, Spicelands Riding Centre, Riddell’s Bay Gas Station and Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club.

He even befriended future US President John F. Kennedy, when the then-senator visited Bermuda on vacation with his family and rented a sailboat from him at the Riddell’s Bay Boat Club.

Mr Sousa met Linda in 1973 and together they ran Landmark Riding School as well as having a son together, Philip, which is Greek for “lover of horses”. His passion for animals saw Mr Sousa ride, race and show horses, as well as helping found the Dog Training Club and restart the Bermuda Hunt Club.

He remained active into old age, maintaining the house, garden and pool at the family’s home, called Embargo.

“He was always barefoot and in Bermuda jams,” Mrs Sousa said of her husband, who was a grandfather of six. “When people moved in across the road, they thought for the longest time that Benny was the gardener.

“Benny left us all with so many tales to tell and memories, and he will be in our hearts for ever.”

Mr Sousa’s sister-in-law Mandy Keepax called him “a wise, hard-working, proud, generous and loving man, who was truly a legend in his own lifetime”.

“We will remember with deep affection the man that brought Bermudian sunshine into each of our lives,” she added.

Sir John Swan, the former Premier, recalled first meeting Mr Sousa in 1960, after he began working in real estate for a friend of his.

“Benny always treated me with fairness, gave me good advice and helped me to start my career,” Sir John said.

“He was a top entrepreneur and a no-nonsense individual, but he was also very pleasant. He always had a smile on his face.

“Money to Benny was always an instrument to help people; it was never about serving himself. I’ve seen him help a lot of people in Bermuda.”