The death occurred yesterday in Winchfield, Hampshire, England of well-known former Bermuda resident L. John Profit, MBE.

Mr. Profit, who was in his 96th year and died peacefully in his sleep, originally came to Bermuda in 1934 to teach French and physical education at Saltus Grammar School, where he also founded the school's Boy Scout troop. He later won a scholarship to Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a minor in Russian.

During the Second World War he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves and served in Bermuda, Panama, Pensacola, Florida and Bronxville, New York. When hostilities ended, Mr. Profit and his family moved to New Zealand for five years. Returning here in 1951, he joined the offshore pharmaceutical company, Davis and Lawrence, at Ordnance Island, St. George's, where he rose to become president before retiring at age 65.

Mr. Profit then joined the Wells Art Gallery, and worked there until he decided to take complete retirement and return to his native England in the late 1980s. He also privately imported gourmet foods for discerning individuals and friends.

Throughout his long residence in Bermuda, Mr. Profit was extremely active in community service, and was also deeply involved in the arts. He was a founder-member of the Bermuda Ballet Association, and a member of the committee which formed the Bermuda Festival. A longtime member of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, he took part in many of its productions, as well as those of the Russian School of Dance. In addition, he was a member of the Bermuda Arts Council, which last year honoured him with its Founders' Award for his contributions to dance and theatre. The Queen bestowed upon him the MBE in recognition of his services to dance in Bermuda.

Other organisations of which Mr. Profit was a member included the St. George's Dinghy and Sports Club, the Hamilton Parish Arbor Society, the Audubon Society, the SPCA, the Shaw Ibsen Society, the Shakespeare Society, and the Hamilton Parish Council.

He was a Town Crier in St. George's, and sang in the choir and was a lay reader at Holy Trinity Church ? the latter practice he also continued at St. Mary's Church, Winchfield following his return to England. Once settled at "Barley Mow Cottage" in Winchfield, he returned to Bermuda every five years to celebrate his birthday with friends and family.

Mourning Mr. Profit's passing are his sons, Peter and Christopher, daughter-in-law Louise, and grandchildren Joss, Nadia, Amanda and Andrea. His wife Nadia, a registered nurse, predeceased him in 1971, and he will be buried next to her in Mattingley Church, Mattingley, Hampshire following his funeral, arrangements for which are pending. A memorial service will be held in Bermuda at a later date.