The gig rowing community will come together for a memorial service at East End Mini Yacht Club on Sunday to remember Maurice Johnson, who died this year at the age of 79.

A founder of the Bermuda Pilot Gig Club, Johnson was integral to its running, with his influence stretching from boat building and maintenance to the history of gig rowing on the island.

Respected by rowers at home and abroad, Johnson will be sorely missed on the water this summer.

Mike Jones, a club member, recalled a man whose legacy will never be forgotten.

“The word ‘indispensable’ sums up Maurice,” Jones said. “He had been with the club since the beginning in May 2015, when the first gigs were unloaded from the container.

“He didn’t actually row himself because of an injured shoulder, but he was a very competent cox because he had been a mariner all his life — and he took care of everything involving maintenance.

“He almost regarded the gigs as his children, and the gig shed was essentially his second home. He did everything for us, was ever-present and was the driving force of the club.”

From listening to Jones, you get a sense of the large void at the club since Johnson’s passing, but memories of him come flooding back especially when members are out on the water.

“He was incredibly generous, incredibly kind and thoughtful,” Jones said.

“You didn’t have to ask him to do anything; he was always proactive. He was the first one out there at so many different things. We miss him more than words can say.

“Whenever we put the boat in the water, it’s subliminal — you remember the things he might have done, he might have said. That’s good in the sense that he is still with us. I know that sounds spiritual, but it’s appropriate. His legacy is that he taught us well and other people are stepping up.”

But Johnson’s talents lay not only with his hands, as his mind was filled with knowledge of local history, ensuring that a day out rowing with him was much more than just that.

LeeAnne Cox, a teacher at Somersfield Academy, recalls many happy hours of listening and learning about the gigs and Bermuda.

“With Maurice, he always had a story,” she said.

“That was the coolest thing about him. His knowledge of Bermuda history and his knowledge of gigs was unending. It was phenomenal. It blew my mind that somebody had that much knowledge stored in their head.

“He taught us the history of St George’s, the areas where we used to row. One of the saddest things for us is that we had always talked about capturing as much knowledge from him as possible — whether it was in a book or recordings — and we didn’t get the opportunity before he passed.

“He was this amazing wealth of knowledge, and the fact he loved to share it was key for me. Every single time we were together, he had something to share, and he just did it so effortlessly and so passionately. He wanted people to learn. He wasn’t using his knowledge to show off — he wanted you to learn and pass it on.”

Cox remembers one unplanned meeting with some of her students that highlighted Johnson’s generosity of spirit.

“I had a lovely opportunity, as three of my students at Somersfield got a chance to row and one of the days we were down at the shed, he was there,” Cox recalled.

“Maurice got to talk to them, and that was one of the best memories I will forever take with me. He let the girls know that history was being made right here and right now, and that they were a part of something special. It’s those moments and opportunities of teaching that will always stay with me.”

One of Johnson’s crowning moments came just months before he died, when he kitted out one of the gigs with a sailing rig. As a result of his efforts, on March 1 a gig was sailed in Bermuda for the first time since 1928.

A labour of love for Johnson, it provided an emotional moment for club member Brenda Dale when the boat took to the water.

“Maurice did all the research, worked out how they used to sail them, saw pictures and figured out how to do it,” Dale said.

“He went, got the wood, made the sails, a mast for the boat and a rudder.

“On March 9, I was in the boat and one of his sons, Paul, was over from the US — we had the sail of a lifetime.

“It was windy and the boat heeled over; I will never forget it. It was the most amazing day and Maurice’s historical knowledge, his effort and his passion to make it happen is etched on my heart.

“We all miss him terribly.”

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