Gold Coast businessman "Big Kev" Kevin McQuay has died from a heart attack, his wife Michelle says.
The cleaning product marketer was 56.
Mrs McQuay said her husband died at 8.30pm (AEST) on Monday in the Allamanda Private Hospital on the Gold Coast.
Mrs McQuay said the death was a huge shock because the burly businessman, who enjoyed a colourful career, was "on the road to recovery getting healthy and getting rid of stress".
"He died of staph infection in the end - it gave him a heart attack ... it's a huge shock, it all happened quickly, it all happened within a couple of hours," Mrs McQuay said.
"It was an absolute accident - he was on the road to recovery.
"He unfortunately was on a major health kick, had lost weight and was thoroughly enjoying life - he had a big turn around and then this happened."
Mrs McQuay said the family was devastated and wanted the media to respect its privacy.
"He has left behind three beautiful sons (aged 28, 26 and 24) who totally adored him," she said.
Big Kev's Ltd - a company synonymous with loud shirts and the "I'm excited" catchphrase - joined the ranks of the Australian Stock Exchange listing in August 2001 in a process Mr McQuay described as "the people's float".
However, Big Kev's failed to make money in a notoriously competitive industry and three years later Mr McQuay opted to cut his losses and resign as chairman.
Mrs McQuay said Big Kev would be remembered as a cheery identity, who warranted a "huge big bash" after his funeral, which was yet to be finalised.
