Former Senator Stanley Gascoigne died yesterday at the age of 92. Sen. Gascoigne was many things during his life time; senator, dedicated teacher, naturalist, top civil servant and businessman to name a few.

During the 1970s and 1980s he was an important member of the Island?s political scene. He headed up the Civil Service as Secretary to the Cabinet from 1972 until his retirement in 1976. But Sen. Gascoigne was not idle during his retirement, he was appointed as an independent to the the upper chamber of Parliament ? then known as the Legislative Council ? within six months of leaving the civil service. He continued to serve in the Senate until 1985.

Sen. Gascoigne moved to Bermuda in 1920 at the age of six. He was educated at Warwick Academy and Saltus Grammar. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University in Canada.

He went on to attain a Diploma in Education from London University and a Masters? in Education from Boston University.

Before joining the civil service Sen. Gascoigne taught at Port Royal School and Saltus Grammar. He began his career in the civil service as Supervisor of Schools. He went on to be Director of Marine and Ports, and Permanent Secretary for Education.

As a Senator, he served on the Sports Development Council, the Bermuda National Trust, and the Permanent Police Tribunal.

In the 1970?s he was the Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda and Executive Secretary of the Bermuda International Business Association.

Sen. Gascoigne was also a keen ornithologist and naturalist, he was President of the Audubon Society from 1953 to 1950 and a member of the Bermuda Zoological Society.

He was also a keen sportsman, in 1934, and represented Bermuda in track and field at the British Empire Games in London. He went on to be President of the Bermuda Athletic Association from 1949 to 1951.

Acting Premier Randolph Horton offered condolences to Sen. Gascoigne family yesterday, particularly his wife Sandy, and their two sons, Tim and Michael.

Sen. Horton added that Bermuda had lost someone who had given much of his life serving his country.