Former advertising and marketing manager for The Royal Gazette Gary Ritchie has passed away at the age of 77.Mr Ritchie entered the newspaper industry in Canada after serving three years in the Royal Canadian Air Force.He came to Bermuda in 1968 to take the position of assistant advertising manager at The Royal Gazette. Over the next 40 years, Mr Ritchie twice left the Island to work for newspapers including the Calgary Herald and TheWindsor Star, and twice returned to The Royal Gazette.His wife Elaine Ritchie said yesterday that her husband had the newspaper industry in his blood, and loved his time at The Royal Gazette.“He had his stints away, but he always came back,” she said. “Newspapers were in him. He was a newspaper man. It was in his blood.“My husband never stopped thinking. He was an idea man. If there was a problem he always had a solution, whether it was at home or at work, and it was always logical.”During his time at The Royal Gazette, Mr Ritchie helped launch the Santas Anonymous programme to help provide needy children with gifts and an annual Hole in One competition to help junior golfers. Mrs Ritchie said he had a passion for golf and was a member of the Riddell’s Bay, Port Royal and Belmont golf clubs.The Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd CEO Jonathan Howes said yesterday: “Gary’s commitment to this company was so strong that the returned from retirement to resume the role as sales and marketing manager when the company needed him.“He was a valued member of The Royal Gazette family for more than 40 years and will be missed.”