A celebrated sailor who represented the island at the 1972 Olympic Games was a dedicated volunteer who developed yachting, swimming and athletics on the island.

James “Jimmie” Amos was also a tireless philanthropist, described by his family as modest and unassuming in giving back to the community.

A statement added: “His sporting excellence helped Bermuda to win competitions and enabled him to serve various sporting bodies in a knowledgeable way.

“His love for Bermuda has resulted in service which has improved sporting facilities and historical sites to raise Bermuda’s profile and enrich the life of other citizens.

“His work has given countless young Bermudians exposure to sport that they may otherwise never have had.”

Mr Amos represented Bermuda in the Olympics for yachting, crewing for Eugene “Penny” Simmons in the Dragon Class at Kiel, Germany in 1972.

He sailed for the island as crew in the Western Hemisphere Snipe Class Championship five times with Skipper Bernard “Easter” Hayward.

As a sportsman, Mr Amos was an all-rounder, playing first division football for St George’s from 1954 to 1964. He was a Bermuda rifle champion in the small-bore category in 1960 and 1961.

A founding member and former director of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, Mr Amos was a member of the Bermuda Olympic Association for 15 years, serving as vice-president from 1988 to 1992.

For the 1987 Pan Am Games and 1992 Olympic Games, he served as the chef de mission.

Mr Amos worked for Bacardi Ltd for nearly 30 years, stepping down as vice-president at the end of 2001.

His work at the company enabled him to raise funds for the construction of the Spirit of Bermuda training vessel operated by the Bermuda Sloop Foundation. He chaired the committee that chose the name for the vessel.

He joined the board of the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Mr Amos was recognised in 1993 with a Bermuda Government Special Achievement Award for his record of contribution to sports on the island, and in 2015 he was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

His work with young people included serving as chairman of the board for Saltus from 1994 to 2000, and as chairman of the Youth Advisory Council from 1980 to 1985.

Mr Amos also spent 13 years in the Bermuda Regiment, starting in 1965 when he was part of the Bermuda Rifles, before it amalgamated that year with the Bermuda Militia Artillery.

He was the first to hold the regiment colours after the two units came together and achieved the rank of captain during his service.

Mr Amos saw active service during the island’s civil unrest, beginning with the Belco riots of 1965 and followed by the murder of police commissioner George Duckett in 1972 and the assassination of the Governor, Sir Richard Sharples, in 1973.

He was part of the regiment team charged with restoring security for the Governor’s residence.

He served one year as commodore of the Spanish Point Boat Club, when he was instrumental in the 1970 hosting of the international Western Hemisphere Snipe race.

Mr Amos and his late wife, Sandra, taught young people swimming, including allowing them the use of their private pool.

He was a founding member of the Triangle Swim Club, and vice-president of the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association from 1980 to 1982

As a Saltus trustee and board chairman, he led fundraising for the construction of the school’s swimming pool.

Saltus called him “a man of remarkable kindness, integrity and wisdom” and said his leadership left an “indelible mark”.

“He embodied the true spirit of a gentleman — gracious, compassionate and unwavering in his commitment to others,” a statement added.

“His loss will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Mr Amos’s fundraising and support also earned him recognition from the organisers of the annual Bermuda End-to-End.

Mr Amos’s service to the community included sitting on the board of trustees for the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, and the protest committee for the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy Association.

He was a board member of the Friend’s of St Peter’s for the preservation of the historic church, and a secretary of the St George’s Foundation.

Mr Amos gave gladly of his time to raise money for veterans in the lead-up to Remembrance Day, and he was a life member of the Bermuda SPCA.

Other causes he supported included the Bermuda National Trust, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute — another life membership — the Masterworks Foundation, the Bermuda National Gallery and the Bermuda Society of Arts.

He is survived by his children, Richard, Cherie, Scott and Heidi, with extended family.

James Frank Amos, a prominent athlete, prolific volunteer and Bermuda Olympian, was born on October 16, 1936. He died in March 2025, aged 88