The Essendon football family has remembered and celebrated the life of one of its most loyal and generous supporters.

Ron Kirwan was a Club benefactor, former number one ticket holder and a member of the Essendonians coterie group since 1976.

He died last Friday aged 74, and today current and former Essendon players, coaches and staff were on hand as his life was celebrated.

“The Essendonians have some of the greatest raconteurs of all time and he was one of the best,” former Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy said.

“We’ve had many wonderful leaders in the Club of all different styles and all different types of personalities – but Ron was in a class of his own.”

Sheedy said Kirwan’s trips to the United States became famous.

“He loved his trips to America – he’d come back and live as one of the best Cowboys in the city,” Sheedy said.

“He either brought back a hat… or a car that he’d get sent back by ship.”

Kirwan was a Life Member of the Essendon Football Club, the Past Players and Officials Association and the Essendonians.

He has two rooms named after him at the Bombers training base in Tullamarine.

Sheedy said the support Kirwan provided to the players went far beyond congratulating them on their on-field deeds.

Kirwan helped many set themselves up for life after football.

“He loved the players, he supported the Coach, he helped develop a lot of young men’s careers by getting them into his network so they could start their own businesses.

“I think that’s one of the really great strengths of Ron Kirwan.

“We will celebrate the life of Ron Kirwan.”

Essendon Football Club again extends its deepest sympathies to Ron's wife Sylvia, his children Sheldon, Andrea and Justin, his grandchildren Patrick and Billy and the wider Kirwan family.