A soft-spoken champion of social justice who fought for workers’ rights and racial equality has been hailed as a national hero.

Eugene Woods was among the founders of the Progressive Group that operated in secret to organise the 1959 Theatre Boycott against racial segregation at a time when anyone challenging the Establishment in Bermuda could expect reprisals.

Mr Woods was also the last surviving founder of the Progressive Labour Party, which formed in 1963 — Bermuda’s first official political party.

David Burt, the Premier, delivered a tribute in the House of Assembly on Friday, telling MPs it “took courage to do the work that he did at that particular point in time”.

He said Mr Woods and his fellow activists “put their lives on the line to advance the cause of freedom in this country”.

A succession of PLP MPs commended his legacy, with backbencher Jamahl Simmons calling him “a true national hero”.

Mr Woods won recognition twice with the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour: in 1974 for his work on race relations, and in 1999 when the Progressive Group stepped out of anonymity to be recognised on the 40th anniversary of its peaceful boycott of the island’s segregated theatres.

Bermuda’s officially sanctioned segregation policy soon crumbled under the challenge, with hotels and restaurants following.

Mr Woods was also a prominent businessman. As an electronics engineer, he opened his own firm on Court Street, the Tele Radio Company, and he partnered with his father, a chef, to open Gene’s Cafeteria, which became a community hub in Hamilton.

He was also a trailblazer in sport, particularly tennis, coaching many players and advancing the sport on the island.

Mr Woods grew up on Ewing Street in Hamilton, balancing school with odd jobs while helping to care for his younger siblings.

His love of music came with a deep appreciation of classical music and jazz, and in his youth he was part of a dance group with his sisters.

His fascination with electronics took him to college in Canada, where he studied radio technology — becoming a pioneer in television repair back on the island and leading in the introduction of colour TV.

Mr Woods worked first in a television shop on the US base and served as a consultant for the TV department of the company Holmes, Williams & Purvey before founding his own business.

Gregory Woods, one of his sons who was born in the same year as the Theatre Boycott, said the shop also served as “a hub or gathering spot for a lot of the progressive gentlemen of the day”.

The family home on Loyal Hill in Devonshire offered another gathering place for people seeking to change the social order of the island.

A devout Roman Catholic, Mr Woods was part of the social action group of the church when he was invited to join the Progressive Group.

Mr Woods was particularly close to Wilfred “Mose” Allen, another founder of the PLP.

He served as chairman of the new party and was also elected a general secretary of the Bermuda Industrial Union in the 1960s.

Mr Woods was part of the group that formed the Committee for Universal Adult Suffrage, which secured voting equality. He served on the island’s Race Relations Council.

His son said: “He was always aware of social justice, which supported his involvement in the labour movement, human rights and race relations. He was very heavily involved in those organisations.

“He was very much a people person. Everybody knew him — he loved to laugh, loved fun and just loved life.

“He was a consummate family man, the big brother to his siblings and a family patriarch keeping us all together and solving issues.”

Mr Woods had a passion for boating and the water. A keen chef, he made his fried fish a centrepiece of family gatherings.

David Lambert, a former president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association and former national coach, said Mr Woods was a founder and president of the BLTA as well as of the Professional Tennis Association, now the Professional Tennis Registry.

“I would describe Eugene Woods as a pro’s pro,” Mr Lambert said.

“He was an accomplished tennis player and a very successful coach with a very easy manner.

“I have seen him work with potential players who were very nervous and could not hit the ball, or didn’t have rhythm or timing. He had his way of getting them to relax; that was just his manner.”

Tennis was largely an elite, White-dominated sport in its early days, making Mr Woods a trailblazer in another arena.

The BLTA was “formed with the hope of merging different clubs together”, Mr Lambert said. It also led to popular tennis events such as the Winter League.

“He was very strong in making sure all the pros felt welcome,” Mr Lambert added.

“Being around Eugene Woods was a lesson. You just kept learning. He was also a first-class engineer.”

A pro at the old Southampton Princess Hotel followed by the Elbow Beach Hotel, Mr Woods was a longstanding manager at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium.

He was skilled at bringing major figures to the island, including the late professional and frequent visitor Arthur Ashe Jr, whose brother Johnny was married to a Bermudian.

Mr Lambert said: “He is going to be very much missed.

“My bit of advice to everyone is, if there is someone you know well that you haven’t seen in a while, don’t let the chance go by.”

Gregory Woods added: “We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us through this difficult time — particularly the oncology department at the hospital, the tennis association, the PLP family and the Mills Creek crew of his friends.”

Mr Woods is survived by his wife, Whilma-Jean, children Gregory, Janene, Andre and Ryan, and stepson Paul.

Eldridge Eugene James Woods, a political activist and businessman, was born on August 22, 1935. He died on March 15, 2025, aged 89