Life Brokers Association (LBA) founder and inaugural president Cyril Chaplin passed away after a long illness on January 9, 2012.

Current LBA president Noel Charles paid tribute to Chaplin, describing him as a man ahead of his time.

"He was somebody with a great deal of foresight. He could see the benefit of strength in numbers when dealing with product providers. That's very commonplace today [but] Cyril saw that probably before anybody else did," he said.

Charles also paid tribute to the way Chaplin dealt with illness, saying that was typical of his character.

"He was a real battler, lesser people would probably have succumbed a lot sooner than he did. He just wouldn't give up, that sort of determined attitude was very typical of him as a person."

Chaplin began the journey that led to the creation of the LBA in December 1993 after persuading a number of life offices to distribute to their broker associates an open letter stressing concern that there was no independent representation for brokers.

The letter included contact details for Chaplin which, after meetings and discussions with several of the respondents, led to a meeting in Rotorua in 1994 which saw the passing of a draft constitution and an agreement to recruit enough support to form an Incorporated Society.

That was accomplished in September 1994 and the first meeting of the LBA was held at the Okoroire Hotel just south of Hamilton. That meeting saw the election of the first LBA board, with Chaplin elected as president.

Charles said the New Zealand insurance industry has lost a unique character with the passing of Chaplin.

He is survived by wife Lorraine and children Tony, Gaye, John, Glen and Julie and grandchildren Connie, Jared, Sean and Hayden.