Survived by his wife, Mary Cossette; sons - John Cossette and Andrew Cossette; five stepchildren - John Ufland, Anne Casey, Christopher Ufland, Jennifer Bontempo and Joslin Weiner; and eight grandchildren.
He served in the United States Army during World War II.
Received his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California (1949).