Fife’s most senior education official, Roger Stewart, has died at the age of 59.

Tributes poured in at the weekend for the council’s head of education, believed to have passed away in his sleep as the result of a heart attack on Friday evening during a short break with his wife in Glasgow.

Originally from Cardenden, Mr Stewart lived in West Calder and worked for West Lothian Council before taking over from Alex McKay as head of Fife Council’s education department in 2002.

In professional circles Mr Stewart was widely regarded as a man with a passionate vision to deliver the best possible education service to Fife and was the driving force behind the controversial school estate management strategy, which aims to reshape and modernise schools across the area.

Fife Council’s chief executive Douglas Sinclair paid tribute to an “outstanding professional of enormous integrity.”

Council leader Anne McGovern said, “Mr Stewart was an excellent officer who made significant improvements in the education service and was never afraid to rise to the challenge. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

Schoolchildren spokeswoman Kay Morrison said Mr Stewart’s passing would leave a “huge gulf” in the education sector.

Children’s services committee chairman Tom Dair said, “Roger was very committed to improving opportunities for all pupils and schools in Fife and his contributions and strong leadership skills were praised by HM Inspectorate team just last year.”

Mr Stewart’s death has shocked and saddened parents who met him just last week.

Canongate Primary, Greyfriars RC, Langlands and Lawhead schools in St Andrews were all visited in turn last week on consecutive nights by Mr Stewart and his team, giving parents and residents an overview of proposals.

Although the meetings were sometimes heated as concerns and ideas were expressed by parents, differences of opinion were put aside as the heads of the school boards affected expressed their deep sadness at the news yesterday.