A man who worked as Santa Claus at Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas Eve died in a Connecticut house fire the next morning. According to authorities, the 71-year-old man was on the roof of the home trying to rescue his granddaughter when he died. Including the man, five family members perished in the fire.

The New York Post reports the man was a retired liquor executive who once visited the United Nations dressed as Santa.

Coworkers described the man as a jovial, good guy. The article cited a notice in which the man advertised his services, saying he played Santa because a granddaughter asked him to do so. He said he enjoyed the job more than any he’d had.

Courage of blaze kids’ ‘Grandfather Christmas’ [New York Post]

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