Daniel Joseph Cosgriff (SPC 1986-91)
October 23, 2023
Dan Cosgriff.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Old Collegian Daniel Joseph Cosgriff (SPC 1986-91), who passed away after a 12-month battle with bowel cancer on 20 September 2023, peacefully at Gandarra in Ballarat, surrounded by his loving family, just seven weeks short of his 50th birthday.
Dan was the loved and loving husband of Cheree; dearly loved father of Sam (SPC 2007-12) and Georgia, Jarrod (SPC 2008-13) and Zoe, Jess and Alex and adored “Dandad” of his first grandchild, Ozzy.
He was the very dearly loved fifth child of John (former staff) and Jan Cosgriff and brother of Michael (SPC 1981-83, PY1984), Brendan (SPC 1981-86), Anthony (SPC 1982-87), Greg (SPC 1984-89), Justin (SPC 1989-94), Joanna, Ben (SPC 1994-99), Virginia and Paul (SPC 1998-2002, PY2003). He was a treasured uncle to 26, including Darcy Cosgriff (SPC 2015-20), Rohan Cosgriff (SPC 2018-2022, PY2023) (dec), Max Cosgriff (SPC 2017-22) and current students, Lachlan Cranage, Tom Cosgriff and George Rogers.
Dan Cosgriff, pictured in Form 1 in the 1986 College Annual.
Dan was remembered as a “beautiful man” by his family and he will be greatly missed. A Funeral Mass was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat on 28 September 2023.
Dan commenced school at St Martin of Tours, Rosanna, however in 1980 the family moved to Lal Lal and he completed primary school at Lal Lal Primary before starting at St Patrick’s College in 1986.
Dan was a good student with a love of sports including football, cricket, volleyball and tennis. He worked his way up to the SPC First XVIII Football team in his final year and his footy skills were described in the 1991 College Annual as “a straight-ahead type who possesses good skills on both sides of the body and should develop into a very good player of the future”.
Dan was invited to play football at Lake Bolac in the western district and it was there that he met his wife Cheree and together they have three children. His daughter Jessica’s baby son Ozzy, born just after Dan’s diagnosis was perhaps his best medicine during his last year.
Dan commenced work at Westpac Bank after completing Year 12 and worked there for 30 years, as a teller and more recently in agri business banking, achieving great success in that role.
Dan’s great-uncle Thomas died in 1916 during the battle of Fromelles in France. Dan has always shown a great interest in war history so when 250 bodies were discovered in Pheasant Wood, Dan registered his family with the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and after DNA testing, Thomas was identified. He has now been formally buried in The Australian War Cemetery in Fromelles and the family have a grave to visit and many Cosgriff families have closure. This was all because of Dan.
Dan was also passionate in his dedication to family, his own and the families of his siblings visiting all of them regularly to make sure that they were okay. Dan also enjoyed several visits to visit his younger brother Paul in the UK, and in Dan’s last week, Paul came to him.
In all the messages of condolences that Dan’s family have received since his passing, the messages have mentioned Dan’s cheeky smile.
“We have the memory of that smile and a wonderful courageous man to sustain us in our future without him.”
– Thank you to Dan’s family for their assistance in preparing this tribute
Dan, pictured in his Year 12 class photograph, in the 1991 College Annual.
Dan, pictured in the First XVIII Football team photograph in his final year, where they were also crowned BPSA Premiers.
Dan was active in volleyball as well at the College, pictured here in the senior volleyball team, as published in the 1989 College Annual.
Dan was active in sports during his schooling at SPC, pictured above in the Year 9 Football team photograph, in 1988.