The oldest known living person in Bermuda, and the territory’s oldest man ever, Lefroy Brownlow Place, passed away on July 23rd, just one day before his 108th birthday. His passing was confirmed by the Royal Gazette of Bermuda.
Lefroy Brownlow Sinclair Place was born on 24 July 1916, as the oldest of six children born to parents Alfred Brownlow and Julia Place. On 23 June 1940, he married Sadie Marguerite Bassett. They were married for approximately 59 years before her passing in 1999. Together, they had three children: Tucker, Glenda, and Charlene.
In 1925, his father, along with several supporters, founded the Bermuda Recorder newspaper. His father and four supporters were reportedly inspired by Marcus Garvey‘s message. His father became the managing editor of the paper. At the age of 13, he was sent to learn the plumbing trade, but he joined The Recorder in his late teens. For over 40 years, he served as his father’s ‘right hand.’ He later became the managing director of The Recorder but left the paper in 1979, shortly after his father retired. After leaving The Recorder, he worked for the Corporation of Hamilton for over 20 years, retiring at the age of 85.
On 26 January 2023, following the passing of 108-year-old Myrtle Edness, he became the oldest (known) living resident of Bermuda. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest known man ever to die in Bermuda and the second-oldest (known) person in the territory’s history, following Edness herself.
LongeviQuest sends our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Lefroy Brownlow Place.
