One of the island’s most accomplished all-round sports talents was also a versatile coach, including softball at the national level.

Braxton Stowe Sr played on the Masters cricket team as well as Forties in the Commercial Cricket League, and the Warwick, Police and Southampton Rangers teams.

Mr Stowe played on Bermuda’s national football team that won a bronze medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1978.

He coached netball at the domestic and national levels and also men’s and women’s hockey, and served as a football referee and cricket umpire.

Mr Stowe took to sport from table tennis and tennis to pickleball — but was especially associated with softball.

His coaching in the sport ranged from the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association to the Bermuda women's softball squad — including the celebrated Big Blue Machine that dominated throughout the Caribbean during the 1970s.

Retired sports journalist Joe L. Brown recalled him as “vibrant, a fabulous fellow”.

“I was into softball. Braxton played on the national men’s team and then worked with me at the management level of the sport itself.

“He was a tremendous all-rounder in sports and sports management. He did everything — table tennis, softball, football, and he managed softball and football. Whatever you wanted him to do, he was the person you could go to.”

He added that, although sociable, Mr Stowe was foremost an athlete and avoided alcohol or smoking.

“He was not a late-nighter. Braxton was very, very popular and wanted to help out wherever, whenever, however he could. Just having him there meant that everything was going to be OK.

“He loved sport, but in fact, Braxton loved people. Whatever you wanted to do in sport, Braxton could help you achieve your objective. That was a God-given gift.

“He was not braggadocious or trying to be bigger and better than somebody else. He just did what he wanted to do.”

Neville Tyrrell, a Progressive Labour Party backbencher, paid tribute to Mr Stowe, his former neighbour, on Friday in the House of Assembly.

Mr Tyrrell told MPs that the two had played slowpitch softball together.

He said Mr Stowe also coached his grandson as a professional tennis player.

Gavin Manders, another tennis pro, told The Royal Gazette that Mr Stowe had taken a lead role in establishing a new racket sport in Bermuda.

“Braxton Stowe’s dedication, passion and guidance were instrumental in the growth and development of pickleball on the island,” he said.

“His invaluable contributions have left a lasting impact on our community. He will be deeply missed by the Pickleball Association of Bermuda and the Manders family.”

Mr Stowe is survived by his wife, Lavern, and children Laetitia Parfitt, Glenn Jones, Geno Jones, Devin Saltus and Braxton Stowe Jr.

In a statement online, Glenn Jones, the former Bermuda Tourism Authority interim chief executive and now a journalist at NBC 10 in Boston, said: “After respects are paid, I hope we remember Braxton for his gigantic heart, his gentle spirit and his commitment to always give far more than he received. It’s certainly what I’ll remember.”

• Braxton James Stowe, an all-round sportsman and coach who represented the island in football, cricket, softball and hockey, was born on January 14, 1952. He died in May 2024, aged 72