St. David's Islanders are mourning the loss of the island's "wise old man" ? Romeo Sydney McRonald (Mickey) Pitcher, who died on Sunday. he was 69.

Mr. Pitcher was a part-owner of the St. David's Esso Convenience Centre.

"He relished his position as the wise old man of St. David's, going to the gas station every morning," his family wrote in a memorial.

"He had a band of regulars who came like clockwork, and generally, by 7 a.m. they had managed to sort out the world's affairs."

St. David's MP Suzann Roberts-Holshouser said Mr. Pitcher exemplified the meaning of "a true St. David's islander".

Mrs. Roberts-Holshouser said he was a man of high-stature, truth and integrity.

"He was the type of individual who would give you the shirt off his back," she said. "You don't replace people like him."

The St. David's MP will be speaking at Mr. Pitcher's funeral on Sunday.

His family said St. David's island was Mr. Picther's passion.

"He helped build the cricket club, he was a life-long member of the Chapel of Ease, and at the time of his death, had just taken over the responsibility for the maintenance of the graves," they wrote.

Mr. Pitcher was known as "Mickey" to his friends and "Uncle Mickey" to the St. David's community.

He attended Howard Academy and worked on the US Naval Base before becoming a branch pilot in December, 1958.

Many St. David's islanders were pilots who traditionally rowed out to sea to safely bring incoming ships into port.

Mr. Pitcher was a pilot for 36 years, progressing through the ranks and eventually retiring as Deputy Pilot Warden on February 28, 1994.

Mr. Pitcher loved sports, including cricket, football and sailing.

A St. David's Cricket Club tie is on display at Lords cricket ground, because he placed it there.

In his younger days, Mr. Pitcher played county cricket with St. David's, football with Wellington Rovers and raced comet-boats with the East End mini-yacht club.

But his boat, rarely placed highly, they said, as he kept stopping it to light his cigar.

He and his wife Ella had three sons ? Sean, George and Christopher.

When he was courting his wife of 43 years, he always carried Juicy Fruit gum for her sisters, the family said, and sweets were a leitmotif than ran through his life.

"Children visiting Uncle Mickey in the gas station would inevitably leave with a piece of candy or gum, much to the consternation of their parents," they wrote.

Nieces and nephews said he would awaken them at 10 p.m. to join him in a bedtime treat of ice cream.

He would make them feel grown up by serving them ginger ale in wine glasses, they said.

"Uncle Mickey was one of life's gentle giants, who never raised his voice, but quietly and profoundly touched every one he met," they said. "He will be missed."