THE news this week of the deaths of Toss Taaffe and Stan Cosgrove is sad. Both men had very full lives, were hugely successful in their respective fields, earned the respect of all, and were, most importantly, family men.

While in their own way each shunned the limelight, Stan’s character meant that he was thrust into it on more than one occasion. Nonetheless, he was always self-deprecating, considered himself lucky with his family, his association with Walter Haefner, his work and his friends. Once met, Stan was a man you never forgot.