After battling stomach cancer for over a year, the nephew of Walt Disney has passed away. Roy Edward Disney was 79 years old. A spokesman for Walt Disney Co. confirmed Mr. Disney’s death. He died in a California hospital.
Mr. Disney’s father, Roy O. Disney, was the co-founder of the original Disney Entertainment Group, which was founded in 1923. Mr. Disney worked with his father and uncle’s company for almost 60 years, until he stepped down in 2003. Before he stepped down, Mr. Disney held the position of Vice Chairman of the Disney board and Chairman of the Disney Studio’s Animation Department. He continued to hold the position of Title Director Emeritus and Consultant until his passing.
While he served as the head of the animation department, “Disney helped to guide the studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes.” Mr. Disney worked on “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast,” among other films.
Born in 1930, Mr. Disney entered the showbiz industry when he was 22 as an assistant film editor for the “Dragnet” television series. He attended Pomona College and Harvard University. He was a competitive sailor, holding many records for offshore racing. Mr. Disney won the Transpac sailing race, which spans from Hawaii and California – almost 3,000 miles - multiple times.
In 1931, Mr. Disney joined his father and uncle and began work with the Disney Entertainment company. He was nominated twice for an Oscar, the first time in 1959 for his work on the short film entitled “Mysteries of the Deep,” and the second for his 2003 production of “Destino,” based on the art of legendary artist Salvador Dali. In 1978, he formed an investment company called Shamrock Holdings.
There are many forms of stomach cancer, including a rare type known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, and manifests in the peritoneum, or lining of the stomach. Unfortunately, unlike other forms of cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma is extremely difficult to treat, and while some patients may respond to palliative treatments, such as chemo or radiation, the majority will succumb to the disease in less than two years following their diagnosis. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Mesothelioma – including peritoneal mesothelioma and the two other forms of mesothelioma, pleural and pericardial – has a latency period of as many as fifty years. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include stomach and chest pain. Often, peritoneal mesothelioma is misdiagnosed as a hernia.
A private funeral will be held for Mr. Disney, and his ashes will be scattered at sea.
For additional information about peritoneal mesothelioma cancer, including mesothelioma symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and mesothelioma treatment options, please visit Mesothelioma.com.
