Dudley Butterfield the founder of accounting firm Butterfield & Steinhoff and patriarch of a successful business dynasty, has died. He was 91.

Family members said he passed away shortly before noon yesterday at his home and had not suffered any illness in the days leading up to his death.

He will be remembered for his vision as an entrepreneur and, say those who knew him best, an uncanny ability to remember hundreds of jokes.

"Dudley Butterfield was a visionary and entrepreneur, who as early as 1949 saw the need for a professional accounting firm to service the Island's fledgling international business sector," said a statement from the firm, now an arm of KPMG.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Deborah, their sons George, Jim and Tom and to daughter Peggy."

In addition to Butterfield & Steinhoff, Mr. Butterfield, who once described starting businesses as his hobby also founded the Bermuda Cement Company, a florist shop, a laundromat and other concerns including insurance, real estate and office supply companies.

And he managed the family business, importer and distributor Butterfield and Vallis.

"He was a man of huge intellect and intelligence and a man of I can only say great wisdom. And therein lay so much of the reasons for his successes in life," said his son Tom Butterfield.

Mr. Butterfield added that his father would definitely be remembered for kicking off the accounting business in Bermuda.

"He is the source of the spawning of the accounting business in Bermuda. He created the first company to do it. He was the first to realise that it was needed," he said.

"I think he will be remembered for a whole lot of things as well. He had a brief stint as a member of the legislative council (later the Senate) in the 1960s and I believe too he was the first chairman of the Monetary Authority."

Dudley Butterfield is also survived by eldest son George, who lives in Toronto, Canada, daughter Peggy Couper, Jim Butterfield and seven grandchildren.

For Mrs. Couper, her father's ability as a storyteller and an athlete left the biggest impression. "Growing up my most favourite memories was that he always encouraged me to be an athlete and he was a fantastic athlete himself. It was one of the things that I really bonded with him," she said.

"What's very interesting too is when you think of it, his grandchildren and some of his children hold a number of records. So athletics have always been a big part of our family."

Her father was also a highboard diver and tennis player in his younger days and had a passion for woodworking, she said.

"He spent most of his evenings before dinner in his workshop and I certainly learned a lot of woodworking from him which I continue to this day."

She added : "My dad was the best joke teller I have ever ever met. Ever. He told hundreds of jokes and remembered every one. He was the best storyteller, absolutely fantastic. He always had a story. He was absolutely fine right up until he went so that was lucky - he didn't go through any illness."