Finance Minister Eugene Cox died today after a year-long battle with cancer.

When the Deputy Premier passed away at 12.35 p.m. in the Lahey Clinic near Boston, his loved ones were at his bedside - wife Alinda, sons Robert and Jeremy, and daughter Paula, the Island's Attorney General and Education Minister.

Mr. Cox, 75, had been suffering from stomach cancer for a year and had been receiving outpatient treatment at Lahey, but earlier this week he took a turn for the worse and lapsed into a critical condition.

Premier Alex Scott said yesterday Bermuda was in mourning, and he described Mr. Cox as a “statesman” who had helped lay the building blocks for the Progressive Labour Party to change the Island.

Mr. Scott will cut short a holiday in Australia to return to the Island, although Government has not yet named a new Finance Minister, Acting Premier Ewart Brown said yesterday.

No funeral arrangements have yet been made as the Cox family are still in mourning, but full details will be released when the family and Government decide how to honour him.

Tributes poured in yesterday from all walks of life for the mild-mannered former footballer, Belco executive and politician, who was universally described as a gentleman.

See tomorrow's Royal Gazette for full coverage.