Cork businessman Ted Crosbie, a member of the Crosbie family who owned and ran the Irish Examiner and other newspapers for many years, has died.
Mr Crosbie was one of the fourth generation of his family to have been involved in the ownership of the media group and was still a director of Landmark Media at the time that the company was bought by The Irish Times in 2018.
He went to school at Christian Brothers College in Cork and college at UCC where he studied science, once describing himself as "a chemist by training, a shovel engineer by vocation and a manager by desperation".
After joining the family company, then the Cork Examiner, in the 1950s, Mr Crosbie travelled to Sweden to study printing methods and became Technical Director of the Examiner in 1958, later joining the board of directors.
He subsequently became chief-executive and director of Thomas Crosbie Holdings, the company which owned the Examiner, Echo and other newspapers and media operations around the country.
A pioneer within the Irish media sector, he led many technological changes in the newspaper business from the 1960s onwards.
Thomas Crosbie Holdings was named after his great-grandfather Tom Crosbie who edited the Cork Examiner in the 19th century and became the owner in 1872.
A lifelong sailing enthusiast, Ted Crosbie was a former admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and involved in many other aspects of Cork business and cultural life, including the Cork 800 celebrations in the 1980s, Cork's year as European Capital of Culture, Cork Opera and Threshold.
He was conferred with an honorary doctorate in law by UCC in 2007.
Former editor of the Irish Examiner, Tim Vaughan, today described Ted Crosbie as "a fine newspaperman and a person of great humanity, warmth, empathy and a mischievous sense of humour".
Mr Crosbie was a proprietor who firmly believed in the importance of editorial independence, he said.
"When things were getting tricky or there was a tricky situation, and there were many, he would sometimes walk up to my desk and say, 'Tim, you have my full support’."
Ted Crosbie loved newspapers and the newspaper industry, Mr Vaughan said.
Tom Fitzpatrick, current editor of the Irish Examiner, said Ted Crosbie leaves "an enormous legacy" to Irish media and to Cork.
Ted Crosbie's son, Tom Crosbie, a former chairman of Landmark Media, said his father was a "great newsman and a great newspaper man" who knew the importance of professional journalism and independent journalism.
"He grew up in the business. There were three generations before him and when we talk about Dad’s legacy, he was continuing what was passed down from previous generations."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was saddened to hear of Ted Crosbie's death, describing him as "one of the nicest people you could ever meet; witty, erudite and insightful. He was good company always."
Mr Martin said Ted Crosbie's "rich legacy includes the first full colour national newspapers produced in Ireland, as well as innovations in print and digital technologies that were years ahead of his competitors.
"I know his love of newsprint and ink was matched by his love of sailing, and a long association with the Royal Cork Yacht Club.
"A true gentleman, Ted will be sorely missed in his native city and beyond".
