The accounting community in Bermuda is mourning the loss of one of its most active and popular members and an industry leader following the death of Deloitte partner William A. (Bill) Jack earlier this week.

The offices of Deloitte in Bermuda will be closed today from 2 p.m. to allow staff to pay tribute to Mr. Jack, who passed away suddenly on Sunday at the age of 49 from an apparent heart attack.

Mr. Jack had been with the company his entire career, having joined then-Touche Ross after graduating from university. He had been a partner for 16 years.

Fellow partner Roger Titterton said Deloitte staff were in "shock" after his untimely death.

"Any time you have the death of a fairly young man, people don't know what to say or do," Mr. Titterton said.

Mr. Titterton said Mr. Jack was immensely popular and a well known personality throughout Bermuda.

"He was a very special person — friendly, outgoing, vibrant, the kind of person everyone loved to be around," he said.

"Bill gave off an electricity every time he entered a room and his warmth could be felt long after an interaction," the company said in an official tribute. "Bill recognised that the most important part of being a leader was to cherish people, knowing that nothing worthwhile can be achieved without helping others."

Mr. Jack was also the sitting chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda (ICAB) — having just been elected to that post in late June of this year.

"We're just devastated," said Phillip Gagle, ICAB's president and CEO, who described Mr. Jack as "just about my best friend".

"We just concluded a meeting (last) Thursday and he was fine," said Mr. Gagle. "He was a leader in this profession for decades."

Mr. Gagle said ICAB would be meeting next week to discuss its leadership void. "He was very involved in changing the organisation to be much more visible and proactive," Mr. Gagle said.

Mr. Jack was an alumnus of Saltus Grammar School and a member of its Board of Trustees.

"Everyone here at Saltus was terribly shocked by Bill's passing," said headmaster Nigel Kermode. "He was an enthusiastic supporter of Saltus, as an alumnus, a parent and a trustee, he knew the school perhaps better than most and his contribution to the discussions at the Board level was enormously helpful to us all. He was a delightful man and we shall miss him greatly."

Deloitte said the company will be establishing a scholarship in his name "to be used to assist Bermuda university students pursuing a career in chartered accountancy".

Mr. Titterton said: "(Mr. Jack) spent a lot of time working with young people trying to encourage them to work in the profession.

Mr. Jack was also a former officer in the Bermuda Regiment.

A service celebrating Mr. Jack's life will be held tomorrow at St. James' Church, Sandys at 3 p.m. The family has asked that donations be made to the Bermuda Heart Foundation (PO Box HM 1993, Hamilton, HM HX) in lieu of flowers.

Mr. Jack leaves behind a wife, Carol, and two children, Alexander and Christine.