Barry Cass, landlord of the Duke of York in Cowes for 50 years, died of Covid in St Mary's Hospital this week.
Tributes have been flooding in for the well-loved publican, who was believed to be the youngest landlord in the country when he first took on the pub.
Barry, 74, was also respected in the world of powerboat racing and the sport also paid its respects.
His wife Sally and their daughters are in mourning but Sally said: "He was a friend to everyone but to us he was everything and it’s very daunting to think how dull our lives will be without him."