"Life runs at great speed. I always drove with prudence and serenity, not like an ill-tempered person going to the cemetery. I always wanted to finish first in everything, but in death I preferred to finish last." - Fangio
In the last couple of years of his life Juan's health deteriorated quickly. He developed kidney problems that required frequent dialysis treatment. In mid-July, 1995, three weeks after his 84th birthday, he was taken to hospital in Balcarce suffering from severe pneumonia. On 17 July, 1995, at 4:00 o'clock in the morning Juan Manuel Fangio died.
"Overwhelming Emotion. 10,000 people in tears." - Sir Jackie Stewart
Sir Jackie Stewart: "I was playing golf in England when I heard the news about his death. The funeral was the next day and I moved heaven and earth to get there. I finally made it to Buenos Aires, where Stirling Moss had also arrived and we were whisked through immigration and flown by private plane to Balcarce, where Fangio's brother Toto was waiting for us. We changed into dark suits and only just made it in time to see Fangio lying in state in the church in the main square. The family asked Stirling and myself to help carry the coffin, along with Toto, Froilan Gonzalez, Carlos Reutemann and the president of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.
"We attended the service in the church, which was incredibly packed with mourners, and then the six of us carried the coffin down the aisle and outside to the hearse. I'll never forget what happened that day. There must have been 10,000 people gathered outside in the square, standing there in total silence. Absolutely amazing. And suddenly they just started to clap - 10,000 people clapping in slow motion. I mean, overwhelming emotion, absolutely riveting. They were all in tears - 10,000 people in tears - and they all just wanted to touch the coffin of Fangio.
"I would never have forgiven myself if I had missed that. It was one of the most important things I have ever done in my life. I was an enormous fan of his. More than a fan, a great admirer in the manner in which he conducted his life, presented himself and represented the sport. Juan Manuel Fangio was very special to me, as he was to who knows how many millions more."
"For me, Juan was like a second father." - Sir Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Moss: "I was a pallbearer at his funeral, because I respected him so much, to the point of almost loving him, like my father. For me, Juan was like a second father. Not only was he a great driver he was a very lovely man. He had a dignity about him. The Italians have the word 'sympatico' - a very kind and warm person to speak to. Of course I couldn't speak to him, because he could only understand a few words of English and I only knew a little Spanish and Italian. We talked with our hands. But we had a very close relationship in our love for what we were doing - motor racing.
"Of course, he was by far the best of us all. I mean, here was a man who could take a wheelbarrow and make it fly like the Concorde. As impressive as he was, he was the nicest guy imagineable. Most of us who drove quickly were bastards. But he was unique. I can't think of any facets of Juan's character which one wouldn't like to have in one's own. He was such a humble person - which is of course is an unknown word today. For me, Fangio the man is even greater than the myth."
- excerpt from FANGIO The Life Behind The Legend by Gerald Donaldson
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fangio-Life-Behind-Legend-ebook/dp/B009EQG924
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