One of the island’s high-profile architects founded a top firm with his wife — with the couple also stepping forward as “amazing supporters” of the charity Family Centre.

David Benevides’s design skills went into a host of buildings around Hamilton and the island.

Mr Benevides had to rise above learning challenges to forge ahead with his career, making him a keen supporter of the Reading Clinic, where he studied as a child.

He became an academic success, including becoming head boy at Saltus Grammar School, but had to overcome dyslexia, which led to struggles with language — and long hours spent at the Reading Clinic.

Mr Benevides credited it with his career choice, telling The Royal Gazette in 2004: “Dyslexics are known for being good with numbers — I think that is why I went into architecture.”

He added: “Writing and public speaking are not my strengths, but we should dwell on the strengths.”

Mr Benevides studied engineering at Mount Allison University in Canada. He attained his masters of architecture at the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

He returned to Bermuda in 1987.

Mr Benevides met his future wife, Georgia, that same year when she moved to Bermuda from the Cayman Islands.

They were both architects and went on to found their company together.

Mrs Benevides said: “We married in 1991 and had our son in 1993. We started the company one week after Ryan was born on March 29.

“Ryan turned 30 last March, and so did Benevides & Associates.

“David, as everyone knows, is an extremely talented and prolific architect who has designed over 1,000 buildings in Bermuda — all beautiful, of course, as evidenced by the many awards and publications he has received.”

Mrs Benevides added: “He had just been accepted for a PhD in architecture when he met me and decided to stay in Bermuda.”

She described her husband as “an extremely hard worker and excellent businessman, building the firm to the success it became and still is”.

“He was also a wonderful father, serving as basketball coach for many seasons among the other sports he played alongside Ryan, including tennis.

“It was actually at a father-son tennis match where his love of tennis began.

“After losing to another father team, he became an accomplished tennis player.”

“He was also a kind and loving husband always insisting on kissing me and saying ‘I love you’ each time we parted.

“He was an excellent gardener and always had projects around the house. He was also an excellent boatman and took great care of his boats, even leading to a stint as commodore at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

“He was very generous with other charities, constantly giving time and money, including to the Reading Clinic and Family Centre.

“I cannot imagine life without him now. He was such a blessing and a light around our home.”

The couple were repeat winners of the Building Design Awards and won recognition from the Bermuda National Trust for their care in renovating old Bermuda houses. They worked on projects internationally as well as on the island

Mr Benevides also served on the board of the Architects Registration Council.

He was a competitive tennis player often found on the clay courts of the Coral Beach and Tennis Club or at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

He was a prominent RBYC member, holding several leadership positions, including commodore from 2020-21.

The couple left a mark on Family Centre, with the charity calling Mr Benevides “a dear friend and supporter for many years”.

“When interacting with David and his wife, Georgia, they were always genuinely interested in the welfare of Bermuda’s children and families,” it added.

“They never hesitated to help. Georgia and David were a power team and when Georgia became aware of a Family Centre need, she would automatically say, ‘I am going to talk to David’.

“We at Family Centre consider ourselves very fortunate to call David our friend. Georgia and their family will remain in our thoughts and prayers during this time.”

Family Centre thanked Mr Benevides for his “warm heart and unwavering support of our vulnerable children, teens and families in Bermuda.

“You will be sadly missed.”

• David Paul Benevides, an architect and head of a Bermudian firm, was born on May 4, 1965. He died on October 30, 2023, aged 58