It was indeed a sad revelation to wake up to the news yesterday, that Roy E. Disney had passed away after a year long battle with cancer, he was 79. Aside from being Walt's nephew, Roy was a Disney executive, and a Disney Board member, who had a deep love for the company that his Father and Uncle had started. Though some people derided him as being only interested in the value of his controlling share of the Disney company, Roy always had the best interest's of the company that bore his family name in mind, at all times. He was a powerful force for positive change within the Disney company. Fans and shareholders alike trusted Roy, who had a striking resemblance to his Uncle. this was a characteristic that served him well when it came time both in 1984 and 2005 to generate stockholder interest to oust Disney CEO's who had lost sight of what Roy believed the Disney company was all about. Roy was also a driving force behind Disney's animation Renaissance of the 1990s. He served as executive producer on Fantasia 2000, the sequel that Walt Disney had always wanted to make, but never had the chance to. Roy had a passion for animation that was akin to that of his uncle and was an early and constant supporter of Computer animation and he was instrumental in Disney's eventual purchase of PIXAR. He was an avid sailor. He enjoyed the high seas and had also financed an produced several documentaries on the sport. On a more personal note, Roy was to me, the last living link to the Walt Disney era. Somehow it was always reassuring that Roy was there to right the ship no matter what may happen. It is indeed a sad day, because for the first time since Disney's inception, there is no one with the 'Disney' family name involved in the operation of the company. It does help to think that Roy had a great deal of faith in both John Lasseter and Steve Jobs, the two men who seem to be the heirs apparent to the Disney creative legacy. That certainly gives me a great deal of hope. So Roy, from one sailor to another, I wish you "Fair Winds and Following Seas," May god bless and keep you. Give Walt our best and be sure to tell him, we still miss him. -Admiral Duke
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