Bermuda Astronomical Society president Edward (Eddie) McGonagle has died at the age of 83.

Mr McGonagle was described by friends yesterday as a warm and funny man who deeply loved teaching people about the stars.

“He had a brilliant mind. He was a quiet and unassuming until you asked him a question and then he would light up and explain everything,” said Astronomical Society member Patrick Paley.

“He did a lot to keep the society going, organising stargazing at the Botanical Gardens and other events.”

In 1992, Mr McGonagle told The Royal Gazette, for whom he wrote a column about astronomy, that he became interested in the subject while growing up in the tenements of Glasgow.

He first came to the Island in 1959 after being hired by Masters Ltd to work on the air conditioning system in the Rosebank Theatre. He continued to work with the company for several years.

In 1964, he attended the first ever meeting of the Bermuda Astronomical Society after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper and became involved in the group. He was named president of the society in 1998, taking over from former president Dr Morley Nash.

Mr McGonagle also spent time teaching courses at both Sandys Secondary and the Senior’s Learning Centre at Stonington after retiring.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, brothers Daniel and Joseph and sister Maureen.