From across Bermuda, from every walk of life, people paid tribute yesterday to Eugene Cox.

Premier Alex Scott, who cut his vacation abroad short after hearing the news, said in a statement: "We all suffer when we lose a relative. Minister Eugene Cox, in representing our country with the statesmanship and dignity with which he became widely known, became one of our family and we will surely miss him.

"Minister Cox and I have had both a close personal and political relationship. As the Progressive Labour Party developed, we were there to help put the building blocks in place and we are men who have been fortunate enough to realise a life-long quest to serve the people of our country.

"Through this journey, Minister Cox and I became trusted friends and his counsel will be greatly missed,

"The hearts of the people of Bermuda are heavy at the loss of one of our native sons, but Minister Cox will long live in each of us. I am honoured to have served with him and to have called him a friend."

Acting Premier Dr. Ewart Brown broke the news at a press conference yesterday, saying: "With a heavy heart, it is my sad duty today to inform you of the passing of our esteemed colleague, Minister of Finance, The Honourable C. Eugene Cox, CBE, JP, MP.

"Minister Cox, one of the most highly respected officers in the Government of Bermuda, was a Progressive Labour Party parliamentarian for over 30 years. Minister Cox brought a brilliant mind, proven executive ability and commitment to service to his position, and from that day until this, he has remained a very strong servant of Bermuda, shown great courage in the face of trouble, and met adversity with determination.

"He epitomised the representation in Government matters that our country deserves. We are deeply saddened at this time, our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family members of Minister Cox, and especially to our Attorney General Paula Cox, daughter of our beloved minister."

Governor Sir John Vereker said: "Lady Vereker and I are very sad to hear of the passing of Eugene Cox, after a long illness so bravely borne. He brought distinction and dignity to the political life of Bermuda, and his contribution over the years as a Minister of Finance was rightly recognised in the New Year's Honours List. We send our deepest sympathies to his family on their loss, which is also Bermuda's loss."

Former Premier Sir John Swan said: "Eugene Cox was a real stalwart of the political arena in Bermuda. I am saddened by his passing because he really stood for principle and goodness, and he really set standards, not just in politics but in the conduct of life itself.

"He will be sadly missed also because he was just getting into his stride making a contribution to Bermuda in a way Bermuda most certainly needed.

"His family can be proud of a man who has given so much to his family and the country."

Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons said: "I would like to extend my personal condolences to the family of the late Mr. Cox, and I join with all my colleagues in the United Bermuda Party in sending our sympathy to them as well as his colleagues in the Progressive Labour Party.

"Eugene Cox had a long and distinguished career in public service, and his passing will be a loss to Bermuda and all who worked with him in Parliament.

"He was Shadow Finance Minister when I became Minister of Finance in 1996, and more recently, our roles reversed. It's hard for me to think about Finance, especially as we approach a new Budget debate, without Eugene Cox in the House of Assembly.

"I know Finance was a special portfolio for him, and it was clear that he was determined to fulfil his obligations even under difficult personal circumstances. He was a dedicated Parliamentarian until the end, and I hope his memory will inspire others to public service."

Former Belco president and Senate President Alfred Oughton worked closely with Mr. Cox at Belco for 30 years and the two retired together in December, 1993.

"He was in charge of engineering at the company," Sen. Oughton said. "He was a very honourable and humble man and a very good engineer.

"We travelled a lot with Belco and he was a great travelling partner, a very interesting man.

"We were very close. He was a good company man. Although he was in politics he always knew which hat to wear at the right time.

"He was a great family man and I know his three children have done very well. He thought very highly of his kids.

"My thoughts go out to his wife, his family and also the country. His background wasn't in finance, although I think he had an economics degree, but he has certainly made his mark since his been Finance Minister in the last six years. He will be sorely missed."

Works and Engineering Minister Terry Lister said: "He will be remembered in Somerset as a great friend, a great leader, and a great advisor. He was really a man of commitment. He told us the story often of how when Dr. (Arnold) Cann became ill he invited Walter Roberts to take his seat, and Eugene Cox to take over the chairmanship of Sandys School.

"That was in 1963, and despite all of things he has done in life, he did not retire, and at his death, he remained a member of the Sandys School Board. That's commitment, and those who came behind learned how to stay to the wicket when things got rough. Things have gone rough and he has been there as a guide to us.

"My brother was his running mate and he loved working with him. They had a 14-year working relationship and in that long time they developed a great love and appreciation. There is a great sense of loss at his departure, but (we will be) together and we look forward to meeting again."

Sen. Reginald Burrows first got to know Mr Cox when the pair successfully ran for Parliament in 1968.

"I knew of him before that, he played football for West End Rovers. He was a very good player. I know him to be a very dedicated and successful Bermudian and a very honest person.

"As everyone knows he was a terrific family man, his wife and children always came first.

"He has made a very valuable contribution to the country. We extend our condolences to his family."

Former PLP Senator and party chairman Ira P. Philip said: "There is no question that Bermuda in general and the Bermuda PLP in particular have suffered an irreparable loss in the passing of C. Eugene Cox.

"We were lifelong friends and associates in many and varied endeavours in his quest to bring about a new and democratic order in Bermuda. It is to his credit he succeeded on all fronts.

"My view of him as a conspicuous public servant and dedicated community worker, I believe is universally held. He set a standard as a man one could trust because of his profound belief in the professional approach at all times.

"It was his cool and calculated disposition that helped in large measure to stamp the PLP as a responsible and respected institution, led for so long by his cousin, the late and lamented Leader of the Opposition, L. Frederick Wade.

"And as the Party went through its many necessary eruptions over the years, Mr. Cox could always be relied on for sound advice. He struck me as a dignified, constant source of strength whose impact was like that of oil on troubled waters.

"He made no apology for his conservatism. I think I knew him well. We were running mates on the same PLP ticket in the Sandys North Constituency during the 1976 General Election. It was then a UBP Government stronghold that we turned into a marginal constituency. Mr. Cox won that constituency months later in a spectacular by-election.

"We can say in short, C. Eugene Cox in his younger days was a spectacular soccer player; always a friend, a Christian gentleman and consummate family man. Our condolences go out to his wife Alinda and children."

As well as a committed political life, Mr. Cox was also a religious man.

"I am greatly saddened by the news of the death of Eugene Cox," said Anglican Bishop the Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray.

"He has been prayed for daily at the cathedral throughout his illness. He was very much a gentleman, who served Bermuda well for a number of years in Parliament, both in Opposition and latterly in Government.

"He was also for quite a long time a faithful member of St. James Church in Somerset and served on its Vestry as well as being a member of the Synod of the Anglican Church of Bermuda.

"His wisdom and sense of dedication to duty will be much missed.

"All members of the Church as well as all of Bermuda will join me, I am certain, in extending to Mrs. Cox and her family our love and prayerful support at this sad time ? may he rest in peace."

Lionel Simmons, who joined Mr. Cox as a representative of Sandys North in 1980, believes the death of his running mate has robbed Bermuda of "a great statesman".

"I first came across him in the 1970s when he was an MP in Sandys South and he was contemplating moving constituencies when I was branch chairman," said Mr. Simmons.

"He lost in the General Election but won in the by-election and I joined him four years later. He was a gentleman and he was a great statesman.

"He had a great influence on my political life and the political lives of so many others ? he is really going to be missed by the country."

Senate Leader Michael Scott, currently Acting Attorney General in the absence of Paula Cox, offered sympathy to his family and praised the parliamentarian's contribution to Bermuda.

"I would like to express my sympathy to Minister Cox's wife and send special condolences to the Attorney General, my colleague," a tearful Sen. Scott said yesterday.

"I'm sure the family will deal with this loss with the courage and fortitude that the Minister showed in his life.

"C. Eugene Cox was a quiet, committed, radical Trojan in all that he did. He was an engineer, a Belco chief, and a great politician for the PLP.

"In the 1960s when Bermuda needed committed black politicians, he was an intelligent, committed and considerable force for the people he represented.

"I think he tilled the political vessel until rising to commander in receiving a CBE."

Sen. Walter Roban said: "I am bordering on being devastated because I was a great admirer of Minister Cox and his commitment to government, the country, and the party.

"Very few persons could match today the dedication, commitment, and level of excellence that he brought to his duty to the community of Sandys and the PLP in opposition and in government.

"He was a statesman for the party throughout his parliamentary career and it is a great loss to us not having that statesmanship he has always given the party."

Former PLP MP and chairman of the Tourism Board Delaey Robinson said: "He was a great resource to Bermuda and his party and it's a big miss, no question. Of course, some really big decisions need to be made, but he will be hard to replace.

"He managed to produce finance policy that did not fly in the face of the ideals he had all those long years, of service to labour," the former Finance Ministry civil servant said. "He was as steady as a rock ? those are the words to sum him up."