Just one of the founding members of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) remains alive following the death this week of Edward de Jean (pictured right).

Politicians from all parties paid tribute yesterday to Mr. de Jean, a former principal of the now defunct Howard Academy in Devonshire, who is also remembered as an inspirational educator and football coach.

Mr. de Jean, a Canadian who died this week in Montreal, helped found the Committee for Universal Suffrage in the early 1960's and was one of the original seven founders of the PLP in February 1963.

Of the founders - Wilfred Allen, Hugh Richardson, Walter Robinson, Dilton Cann, Robert Austin Wilson, Albert (Peter) Smith, and Mr. de Jean - only Mr. Smith is still alive.

Although he never entered Parliament, Mr. de Jean was praised for working outside the limelight to help the PLP and for being a role model to young black men in education and sport.

The PLP issued this statement yesterday: "The party is saddened by the death of one of its founding members. Mr. de Jean played a pivotal role and was one of the architects of what would become the PLP in February 1963.

"Mr. de Jean with the late Wilfred Allen, Peter Smith, and the late Walter NH Robinson and the late Rio Richardson amongst others were members of the infamous 'Desert Group' that congregated regularly to discuss politics and the issues of the day.

"They would foster the plan to organise a political organisation to champion the cause of the Bermuda's poor and working class people.

"Mr. de Jean should also be remembered as a great political activist, educator and role model.

"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family, wife Marion (nee) Trott, daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Saunders and her husband Eugene and their family."

Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "The seven of us formed the party and I feel that he worked very hard with us to get the party going.

"Wilfred Allen was the man who was responsible for getting Mr. de Jean in and he has passed as well.

"It was then me in Bermuda (left) and he was in Canada and that's the way it was.

"I feel a little hard now.

"He was a very, very understanding person."

Sir John Swan, who was Premier under the United Bermuda Party, was a former student of Mr. de Jean at Howard Academy in Devonshire and described him as someone who inspired a generation.

He recalled how Mr. de Jean arrived at what was to become Howard Academy in the late 1940's, which had students who could not get to the Berkeley Institute.

And he said although he went on to join and lead the UBP, Mr. de Jean never judged him or held that against him and continued to be a friend.

"Around his dining room table the PLP was born and it grew and grew and grew.

"He has made many, many significant contributions in sport, politics, education, encouraging intellectual pursuit and public service," said Sir John.

"He made an impression on everyone in the school and over time we learned to respect him because of his no-nonsense but caring and encouraging methods of teaching young people.

"Young men and woman were inspired by him.

"It's your attitude that determines your altitude.

"That sums up his philosophy.

"He really covered the spectrum and was a role model for so many young people, particularly males.

"Even though I was in the UBP against the party he helped set up, he never sat in judgment and said you are no longer aligned with me. We kept a close relationship.

"You measure a man by what he left behind and he left an awful lot in his contribution to others. Eddie de Jean was never in the limelight, but he lit many a path for others to follow."

Last year, Mr. de Jean was given a special award at the annual sports awards for his role in forming Devonshire Colts and in coaching youngsters.

Dr. Stanley Ratteray, who helped organise the boycott of the Island's theatres in 1959 which led to desegregation, said yesterday: "He was a giant of a man both physically and intellectually.

"He had a tremendous impact on many people of my age through his leadership at Howard Academy."

Recalling how the PLP was formed, Mr. de Jean told RG magazine in 1999: "It was around my dinner table that the PLP was formed.

"Wilfred Allen had come to my house (in Evans Bay, Southampton) one night back in 1963 as was usual back in those days because we had a close resonance of political views.

"There were many progressive forces around at the time but there was no unified action.

"After we discussed the idea, Wilfred went over to Hugh Richardson's garage on Serpentine Road with Peter Smith and the idea began to gather momentum.

"Wilfred Allen was the unifier.

"He brought us together and we rallied around the vision."

A service is being held for Mr. de Jean at St. James Church, Somerset on Sunday. Details have to be announced.