Peter Cooper, one of Bermuda’s best-known retailers and the head of A.S. Cooper and Sons, has died, aged 82.

Mr Cooper was regarded as the last man standing of Front Street, when his department store fought on despite the demise of Trimingham’s and Smith’s in 2005.

But for all his business expertise, and many years of service on boards throughout the community, it was the grandfather’s dedication to his family and his friendliness that were the hallmarks of his character, according to his son Somers Cooper.

Mr Cooper Jr, who took over the reins at A.S. Cooper nine years ago, last night paid tribute to his father, who passed on Friday, last week, after a battle with lung cancer.

“I have never met a person that disliked my father,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“His non-judgmental, friendly and engaging disposition made him someone you wanted to be around.

“He treated everyone the same no matter what their age, background or situation happened to be. He was a complete gentleman.”

His outgoing personality, Mr Cooper said, made him the perfect fit as a retailer.

“People just enjoyed doing business with him,” he said. “He was also so loyal throughout his personal and business life. His word was his bond and you could bank on that. He was like that until the day he died.”

During his time as head of the business, Peter Cooper grew it to 18 stores island-wide, with as many as 125 employees, and oversaw its development as a leader and pacesetter in branded fashion.

According to Somers Cooper, it was another element of his personality — his natural cautiousness — that stood the firm in good stead when times grew tough.

“He ran the business very conservatively and cautiously. That helped stop us from going the same way as some of our competitors,” Mr Cooper said.

“When opportunity would present itself to the business, he would think very carefully before taking it up. He was reluctant to do something he wasn’t experienced in.”

For that reason, Mr Cooper said, it took A.S. Cooper some time to expand into the perfume and jewellery businesses.

“Once we had people around us who could take us in that direction, he would take us down that road,” he added.

“While my dad was generally conservative, mainly risk adverse, in his approach to business, he was progressive in the way he thought.”

Born to Edmund and Mary Cooper in Orange, New Jersey, on August 31, 1934, Mr Cooper’s early childhood was spent mainly in New Jersey, Chicago and Philadelphia, while his father furthered his retail training and served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. They moved back to Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke in 1947.

He studied at New York University before marrying his beloved Barbara Hutchings in 1955. That same year, Mr Cooper began working for the family business and moved to Britain, to learn the china business at Wedgwood and other potteries in the Staffordshire area.

On returning to Pitts Bay Road a year later, and under the watchful eyes of his grandfather, father and four uncles, Mr Cooper continued developing a career at A.S. Cooper that would last 52 years, taking over the business in the late 1970s after the retirement of his father Edmund Cooper. His area of expertise was the china and glass merchandise category, which has been the main focus of the A.S. Cooper business for most of its 119-year history. For years he was the “go to” expert in Bermuda for information and opinions of modern and antique British pottery, while he is also credited with establishing long and friendly relationships throughout the industry, around the world.

During his career he held positions on the boards of many local companies including The Royal Gazette, Bank of Bermuda, BF&M and Warwick Academy, where he went against many traditionalists by supporting racial integration. His personal life revolved around family and the water. He had three children, Elizabeth, Christina and Peter Somers, as well as nine grandchildren, Ashley Dunn, Peter and Adrienne Miller, Katie and Cooper Stevenson, and Mackenzie, Julia, Chase and Ellis Cooper.

He grew up sailing and rowing the waters of Pitts Bay with his brother Kirk off the dock of their grandparents’ house. He later crewed for Kirk in a number of local and international events and assisted in his preparation for the 1972 Olympics in the Soling Class.

Boating became the recreation of choice for his young family; he competitively sailed as well as enjoyed time on the water fishing and exploring. He was Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in 1980 and 1981 and remained on the board of governors until his death. Mr Cooper also loved shooting, and was active for many years with the Bermuda Trap and Skeet Club. His service takes place at St Paul’s Church, Paget, on Friday at 3.30pm.

Reacting today, John Wight, president of the Chamber of Commerce, stated: “Mr Cooper was a strong supporter over many years of the Chamber and on behalf of the Chamber I would like to express my sadness on learning of this news.

“Our sympathies go out to the Cooper family and we wish them well during this difficult time.”