Tributes were paid yesterday to a long-serving Bermudian journalist and beloved grandfather who has died at the age of 68. Reginald Semos passed away while in the Lahey Medical Clinic in Burlington, Vermont, on Thursday, April 12 from complications due to surgery.

His daughter, Gail Smith described him yesterday as “spritual,” “well-read” and “quite accomplished in sports”

She said: “He was very kind and would help anyone in need. He would give them the shirt off his back. He was also a great grand-father. He adored the grand-children and would visit them daily.”

Wife of 47 years, Pamela Semos said: “He always had a positive outlook on life and was an inspiration to a lot of people because of his attitude.”

Mr. Semos went to St. George’s Grammar School and then to Mount Saint Agnes for one year. He never graduated from high school, but that never held him back.

He was an accomplished feature writer for the Mid-Ocean News, as well as a sports reporter at The Royal Gazette, the Bermuda Sun and ZFB news.

Ivan Clifford, Assistant Editor for the Mid-Ocean, remembers Mr. Semos as being “good fun to work with” and recalls one story in particular. He said: “It was about a one-legged fisherman in the East End.”

Kyle Hunter, Sports Editor at the Mid-Ocean, added: “He always tried to get local characters. He had a good sense of humour and would pick up stories in coffee shops.”

Not only did Mr. Semos write about local legends - he became one. Working actively with the 12-step recovery programme in Bermuda, he helped many people on their own journeys for more than 30 years.

Mr. Semos has two daughters, Gail Smith and Cindy Semos and two grand-children Zavier, five and Yve. A funeral service will be held today at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, South Road, Smith’s Parish at 2.30 p.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the LCAA at PO Box, HM 64, Hamilton HMAX.