Remembering a Disney Icon: Roy E. Disney the Unsung Hero
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Thu, Dec 17, 2009 @ 09:43 AM
Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away Dec. 16 at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif., following a yearlong battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. His death occurred 43 years and one day after Walt Disney died, also from cancer.
Walt and Roy E. Disney
He was known to have publicly feuded with top executives at the Disney Company and was the organizer of two share holder upstarts (know and Save Disney Wars) that saved the Company from buyouts and ruin. Despite the conflict, he always had the company's interests at heart - keeping it in a state Uncle Walt would have been proud of. He worked diligently for the Disney company for 56 years after graduating from Harvard. He received Oscar nominations for his work as writer and production associate. He also moved Disney pictures into the "golden age of animation" as the head of Disney Animation through releases of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Even his charity knew no bounds, he served on the board for California Institute of the Arts, UNICEF, and Ronald McDonald House. Though he may have been the most proud of his yacht racing records.
"Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special...We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires."
- Stanley Gold
"On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran - Roy's true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle."
- Bob Iger
Never be behind in news and discount vacation package announcements!
Bookmark our Orlando Vacation Planning website!
Follow us on Twitter!
Become our Fan on Facebook!