This week I am going to get personal, Mr Editor, but in a good way. It was only two weeks ago in my column on unsung heroes that I mentioned my uncle Bobby Barritt and his influence on my decision to go into politics. The tributes which have appeared since his death on Sunday have been spot on, but nonetheless I would like to add my own.

First, to borrow a line from Teddy Kennedy’s eulogy for his brother Robert, my uncle would not want us to enlarge him in death beyond what he was in life. There’s no need to either.

Secondly, my uncle preferred modesty when talking about his talents and his contributions. Yet those talents and his contributions filled a lifetime.

RV, as he was also affectionately known — as in RVB, Robert Vaughan Barritt — was a very, very gifted artist. He could not only paint what he saw but what he thought about what he saw. He said his aim was always to paint “how people feel, how they’re reacting to things”. Three of his more celebrated works now form part of the Bermuda National Gallery for all to see. One of them was also featured in the commemorative stamp issue to mark the 50th year anniversary of the Theatre Boycott. RV was honoured to have been featured that way along with his good friend and fellow artist, the late Charles Lloyd Tucker. His was a marvellous artistic talent. He told me people often asked him (like I did) how he learned to draw like that. His reply? “I cannot remember a time when I couldn’t.” But RV was simply being honest. He was blessed with a natural talent.

The pity was that he never pursued art. Instead, RV went full steam into the family business when he returned from university in Canada: the first in his family to have been afforded further education. He understood and embraced what was expected of him. The business became the focus of his attention and RV led the company through some tougher times and built it into the success it became, overseeing what was in its time was a bold move from the corner of King and Front Streets to Verdmont Road in Smith’s Parish.

RV became the face of Coca-Cola here in Bermuda, taking over from his father, Frederick G Barritt, and older brother, Leon; although truth be known he was definitely more partial to Barritt’s Ginger Beer.

The wonder is that he did not pick up either pencil or brush in his spare time. Ever. Not that there was a lot of spare time. He was both dedicated businessman and devoted family man helping to raise with his late wife, Grace, two boys, Bruce and Freddie, who followed him into the business, and a daughter, Christine.

Then there was politics.

RV didn’t like what he saw in Bermuda as a young man. He believed segregation had to end. He also believed in adult suffrage and spoke up, and out, in favour of the universal vote at public meetings. It didn’t always go down well with some people. He recalled one meeting at the Clay House Inn on the North Shore and one snide remark: “I guess you think you sold a lot of mineral tonight.”

But RV was not deterred. He pressed on. He wanted to break down and through racial barriers — and did so in other ways, through business and sport. RV was part of a group, mostly black but some white, who defied convention and organised a basketball group who played up at Prospect, with and against the US forces stationed back then in Bermuda.

RV went reluctantly into politics to make his contribution there as well. He was unsure whether that was the right way or better way to bring people together. Party politics has a way of making enemies of people who would otherwise be friends.

But luckily RV found the right niche when he was appointed Minister for Community and Cultural Affairs. He had a warm and engaging personality, not to mention his disarming and ever present sense of humour. Friendships were forged and, in his own unique way, RV was able to continue to cross the divide, political and racial, and to bring people together for a common cause: Bermuda.

RV left politics and now us with his reputation and good name intact, and with a legacy that will endure beyond death.

No question: he will be missed and by many.