Relatives of philanthropist David Barber are flying to Bermuda for his funeral on Friday.

Mr. Barber is reported to have donated upwards of $4 million to various Island charities and schools since 2000. He died early on Sunday morning at the age of 92.

His closest kin on the Island for the last few years was Stephen Hayward, who lived next to Mr Barber. Mr. Hayward said he would be greatly missed by family and friends.

"My uncle had the gift, the gift to see something and its potential," Mr. Hayward said. " He had the ability not to be afraid and was always able to make informative opinions about business.

"He saw this potential in this old wooden building which he turned into the Coral Island Club. He never seemed to be a worrier and was always upbeat and optimistic."

Mr. Hayward said his uncle was many things in his lifetime ? craftsman, boxer, businessman, hotelier, nightclub owner to name a few.

"In the 1950s he owned one of the hottest nightclubs, Pirate's Lounge," he said. "There were always famous people there and as a kid I remember being amazed."

Mr. Barber's health began to decline in the autumn of last year, Mr. Hayward said. Despite that he continued with plans to build a third storey of his home. It had been one of his last wishes to recapture the view from his home, which he had lost when Ace constructed its new building. All of the donations Mr. Barber made after his wife's death were in her name.

When asked if family members would complete the construction project Mr. Hayward said he was not the executor of the will but hoped that they would.

"It would be great if we could finish it and say "Yes we did it" and throw some event in his memory," Mr Hayward said. "He will be sorely missed."

Brian Duperreault, chairman of The Centre on Philanthropy, extended his sympathy to the family of Mr. Barber yesterday on behalf of the Centre's board members. He said most residents had been directly or indirectly touched by Mr. Barber's charity efforts. "He made his donations to the non-profit organisations in his adopted land wisely and carefully, knowing that they would provide support, encouragement, solace and a safe harbour to so many of the Island's residents," Mr. Duperreault said. "He often made it possible for many of these organisations to continue to function.

"Following the death of his beloved wife Mary, his only request in giving was to have her name attached to the gift.

"Mr. Barber's philanthropy was testament to his belief in Bermuda and in the Island's people," he said. "While many are the richer for his beneficence, we are all the poorer for his passing. " Mr. Barber's funeral will be held at the Hamilton Cathedral on Friday at 3:30 p.m.