I shall forever remember that tragic March morning when Pat Viera called to tell me through tears her dear Harry had died. I listened through tears of my own.

It wasn't that the announcement was unexpected, but at a time like this you want to do anything possible to slow down the inevitable. Harry had fought nobly for his life for years. His ravaged ill-wracked body had fought courageously and won for what was to be one last time only a few days previously. Pat tried to assure me Harry left us as peacefully as he could. Her brave words were a little comforting but no adequate comforting words for her came easily to me.

My late dear wife Lois and I had confidently helped to re-elect Harry as our Member of Parliament during a number of general elections. I only got to know Harry well in the later years of our lives. It happened during a time of a serious altercation Harry had with an opposition MP in Parliament. Harry had pulled out all the stops.

He debated with passionate, well informed knowledge and, when needed, firing off a few torpedoes. A Bermuda newspaper columnist opposed Harry's position with a diatribe of abuse. Harry unleashed his heaviest artillery. Indeed, as the quarrel intensified, the columnist raised the volume of his gibes. His venom now turned on me. Harry replied, thanking me for supporting him, but continued to lambast the columnist, and increased the pitch to a winning volume. This was the background to the start of one of the epic friendships of my life.

Pat told me of the splendid tributes appearing in the press. The tributes had eloquently described her husband's business and political careers. She said she would like it if I would also write a tribute, but concentrate on some other aspect of Harry's life. She suggested my thoughts on the long friendship Harry and I had. I accepted immediately. This is the result.

As the passing years crept up on us, it became all too likely that we would never meet again. It became even more so when Lois and I had to leave Bermuda permanently due mainly to her failing health. Whenever Harry telephoned he always began in the same way. He had to know how our health was in detail before talking about other matters.

Harry Viera was one of Bermuda's most eloquent orators. Like fellow UBP Great, Jim Woolridge, Harry could give a spontaneously significant speech at short notice at any time. He had a photographic memory for details.

I never knew anyone who could quote the Greek classics as fluently as Harry could. It was as if scholars like Socrates and Aristotle were his personal friends. To a degree they were. He was not trying to impress anyone. That was not his style. Harry quoted from the classics because their thoughts and conclusions were appropriate to his subject.

He was a voracious reader of worthwhile books. Many of Winston Churchill's most famous works remained within easy reach of his favourite reading chair. Harry had a marvellous sense of humour. He could be scathing at times during heated political debates but among friends his humour was ever entertaining and genuinely funny.

In recalling memories of Harry Viera, I am really writing on behalf of my dear late wife, Lois. His friendship, personality and intelligence captivated both of us. Whenever we had the pleasure of having Pat and Harry visit us, they loved to hear Lois play the piano. Like everyone else, they requested their favourites. "As time goes by" was one of Harry's.

If I were writing this in Lois' presence, I know she would ask me if she could add a few words. A suggestion, I assure you, I would have been only too pleased to welcome. Harry Viera was proud of Bermuda and his countrymen and women. He was also proud of his Portuguese ancestry. He enjoyed telling how earlier family members had emigrated from Portugal to the Untied States. They had established their New World roots in the flourishing settlement of Fall River in Massachusetts. A generation or two later, his own immediate family emigrated from Fall River to Bermuda where some relatives already had become Bermudian citizens.

It was gracious of Tom Brokaw, the American author and television host, to label Harry's generation as "The greatest generation". Yet, sometimes I think our parents also deserved a place in the Greatest Generation. We often recalled anecdotes, viewpoints, sayings and decision by our parents that had a great bearing on Harry's and my approach to life.

Harry's parents were Joseph and Angelina Viera. Mine were David and Jean Aitchison. I don't think they ever met. Getting about with transportation could be difficult in those days. Bicycling and walking made us fitter. Our four parents had one thing in common. They worked hard all their lives. The torch they passed on to us and our brothers and sisters included such sterling qualities as integrity, honesty and thrift (which meant, don't get it if you can't afford to pay for it). I know I could never repay all that my parents did for me. Harry felt the same way about his.

It is tempting to write we may not see Harry's like again in Bermuda. Who knows? There are as many fine young Bermudians as there ever were. Perhaps up ahead a young man or woman will emerge who will be inspired on hearing about Harry and his life, to want to take the torch from Harry.

Dr. John Stubbs, a brilliant medical doctor and surgeon, and a key UBP member of Parliament, frequently entered Harry's conversation. As I write, I have learned there will be a memorial service for Harry on May 7. Robin Stubbs is assisting Pat with the arrangements.

As I conclude, please join me in remembering Harry Viera for all he was to the world, Bermuda and Bermudians and, above all, to Pat who bravely carries on without the one person she loved and who loved her more than any other in the world.

May Harry Viera live on in all our memories and may he rest forever in peace. No one deserves to more. Farewell, Harry. We miss you and shall remember you always.