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Forum Index: DISCUSSION: Dock Talk: Roy Disney - RIP

Tunces * Dec 16, 2009, 1:45 PM Post #1 of 15 (12765 views) Shortcut Roy Disney - RIP Log-In to Post/Reply Roy Disney passed away today (December 16, 2009) at age 79. He will be missed!

Lisab14 * Dec 16, 2009, 9:22 PM Post #2 of 15 (12696 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply I am saddened by Mr Disney's passing. He was a philanthropist to the sailing community and to the youth of our nation.

CKSailor ** Dec 17, 2009, 8:54 AM Post #3 of 15 (12618 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Roy Disney was, and will remain in my memory as the model for all sailors (and all) to emulate. After being last to finish the '97 Transpac, I arrived just in time for the last press conference and was seated next to Roy (with his leg still in a cast). What an honor and I'll not forget his consoling comment that "You'll be on the stage to receive an award [the Tail End Charlie Award], pretty good for your first Transpac!" I last saw Roy at the Seattle showing of Morning Light, and have a hat that he graciously autographed. I'm wearing it now as I write this. I'm positive he will be missed and well remembered for all the wonderful things he accomplished both on and off the water, but most of all for his honorable character.

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:03 PM Post #4 of 15 (12573 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply From Casey Schnoor: I had the great fortune of being a late add on crew aboard Roy's S&S designed Shamrock for the 1981 Transpac. It was there that I met Roy and his sons Roy Pat and Tim for the first time on the morning of the start. While that trip is most remembered by us for the number of "IOR broaches", I suspect it solidified Roy's appetite for competing in Transpac and his desire for bigger and faster boats to compete with. From that day forward, while our paths crossed infrequently, I was always greeted with warm smile, firm handshake and a "how are you!?" from Roy. Regardless of his stature in the business and movie world and his personal accomplishments, Roy was always a genuinely great guy and true gentleman. As I explained to my six year old daughter this morning, if you are lucky in life, you get to meet a few people that leave you with a significant lasting impression of remarkable qualities, which can give you a goal for which to strive. Roy was one of those people for me. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have known and sailed with him. Roy, I wish you fair winds and a fine following sea.

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:05 PM Post #5 of 15 (12571 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply From Glenn T. McCarthy: An e-mail sailing friend on the East Coast (who I never met in person previously) sends me an email asking if I would be interested in heading up a presentation on "Transpac, A Century Across the Pacific" in the Midwest? Roy Disney would come and meet the Midwest sailors, along with Leslie DeMeuse who co-produced the film. Roy put this project together to promote the Transpac race (if you didn't get the DVD yet - http://www.gaylordsportswear.com/transpac/tpyc_videos.htm). Ok, I'll do it. I figured I would drive my minivan to the airport and jump in Roy's limo. Wow, that was a mistake. His secretary explained that he doesn't go for that, and he would very much appreciate getting a ride in my minivan with the french fries and goldfish crackers stuck in the seats from my young kids. We arrived at the theater on Lake Michigan I rented, and gave him the gist of the Chicago Mackinac Race while peering out over the water, describing what it is like and invited him to bring his boat and give it a try some time. We had a few hours to kill before the show, and much to my surprise he did not answer a cell phone or even show that he had one with him. We sat in the lobby of the hotel, mostly talking about his new airplane, the BBJ. He wore corduroy pants, t-shirt and an unbuttoned flannel shirt and a worn out pair of topsiders that matched my tired shoes. The following year Roy brought Pyewacket to the Chicago-Mackinac and set a new monohull course record that stands today. I received an invite to join Pyewacket, after I committed to another boat, and being a man of my word have been kicking myself ever since taking a pass to sail on Pyewacket! Kind, considerate, respectful, and would treat any of the rest of you the same. Good luck in the Transpac in heaven Roy. My regrets to the entire Disney family.

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:05 PM Post #6 of 15 (12569 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Roy E. Disney is gone at 79 The Transpacific Yacht Club membership joins the rest of the sailing world in expressing our deepest sorrow at the passing of Roy E. Disney. Our condolences especially go to his wife and family who will most miss Roy. We understand the loss of a family member and friend and extend our greatest sympathy. Roy Disney passed away the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 16, after a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He has become an icon for the Transpac Race and a true friend of Transpacific Yacht Club. His many years of service on our board and his generous support helped us time and time again to run this great race. His time and his spirit were always shared with us. At the same time, Roy was a terrific competitor who relished every opportunity to build a new boat, buy some new sails and put together a team to sail the race to Honolulu. When we saw him as he sailed past Diamond Head, his smile was ear to ear. He, as much as any of us, felt the thrill of driving one’s boat across the Pacific Ocean to the warm waters and Aloha welcome in Hawaii. Bill Lee, commodore of the Transpacific Yacht Club, said, “I first met Roy Disney before the start of the 1975 Transpac when he was skippering his lovely dark green yawl Shamrock. My first opportunity to work with him was in 1987 when the California sled group was formed and Roy was elected as the first president and I was secretary. He got the sled group off to a great start and what followed was some of the most competitive big boat racing California has seen. Roy went on to be both an exceptional Transpac skipper and an exceptional director of the Transpacific Yacht Club. He has done a great deal to make Transpac the best possible race.” Between 1975 and 2009, Roy skippered 15 Transpac races and sent his yacht on three more. Roy's interest was always in getting there first. He didn't win overall honors on corrected handicap time but, with his series of Pyewacket boats, was a fierce competitor for the Barn Door for the fastest elapsed time. His first Barn Door win, and course record, was in 1997 when Pyewacket II was actually skippered by his son Roy Pat while Roy was out with a broken leg. But Roy came back stronger than ever in 1999 to win the Barn Door again and take another four hours off the record. His donation of our Elapsed Time Record Trophy was symbolic of the quest he enjoyed with many us. The drive to be the fastest to sail from California to Hawaii kept him coming back again and again. But his love of our sport and his willingness to share his thoughts and his smiles with so many other sailors was really what Roy was all about. Transpac does not yet have a “Roy E. Disney Trophy” but one will need to be announced soon. His gifts to Transpac the race, the club and the people are so many that he will sail on in our thoughts forever. Aloha, Roy The Transpacific Yacht Club

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:06 PM Post #7 of 15 (12567 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply EIGHT BELLS The sailing community lost a great friend on Wednesday when Roy Edward Disney, nephew of Disney founder Walt Disney and son of co-founder Roy O. Disney, died in Newport Beach, California after a year-long battle with stomach cancer. No one has given back more to the sport than Roy Disney. He had a long-term relationship with the California International Sailing Association (CISA) foundation - a relationship that has provided boats, funding and opportunities for thousands of young sailors to become acquainted with the sport, improve their skills and to pursue their sailing goals and dreams. “Junior sailing in Southern California would not be what it is today without Roy’s support,” said Tim Hogan, former CISA President. Disney’s passing will not end his involvement with that foundation. In the mid 1980s, Disney was instrumental in bringing sled racing to the West Coast. He was the founding president of the ULDB 70 Association and loved offshore racing. His favorite race? The Transpac, by a huge margin. In 1999, he set an elapsed time record for that race in Pyewacket III, breaking the record set two years earlier by his son, Roy P. Disney - filling in for dad who had broken his leg shortly before that race started. A long time member of the Transpac Board of Directors, he has heavily supported the organization and the race in an abundance of ways. Scuttlebutt readers will remember that Disney, along with his wife Leslie, produced Morning Light, a riveting and inspiring true-life feature film that gave 15 young sailors a chance to sail their own TP52 in the Transpac Race. Disney is survived by his wife Leslie, four children from his previous marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney, as well as 16 grandchildren. He was 79 years old. Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to CISA (California International Sailing Association, www.cisasailing.org) to benefit youth sailing. - Tom Leweck

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:07 PM Post #8 of 15 (12564 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply From Genny Tulloch: Today we have lost a hero, a legend, an icon, mentor, and a friend in the sailing world. With Roy Disney’s passing comes a lot of grief for me personally, but above the grief comes the honor that I feel for having been able to be a part of his life. In Pyewacket, Roy had a team that became a family. They stuck together through the years because of their shared love and admiration for one another, as well as their commitment to top-level sailboat racing. With the Morning Light team, Roy extended that family to the next generation. We ‘kids’ will always think of him as the ‘grandfather’ of our team, and will forever remember the lessons we learned from him. He not only touched those of us on the Morning Light team, but he also shaped our futures and our lives. We have been influenced and inspired by someone of the highest moral character. We go forward being the best that we can with the most integrity, humility, and humor because that’s what we have seen to be values above all other. Roy’s influence and inspiration were far-reaching. With the movie Morning Light, Roy was able to touch the whole audience of viewers. From the sailing community to the rest of the world touched by any Disney creation, we all have a lot to thank for the part Roy played in this world. After taking a while to deal physically with Roy’s passing, letting the tissue pyramid gradually stop growing, I went out on my deck to throw flowers in the bay in Roy’s honor. The tide had just switched to outgoing. As Roy said when the Morning Light team finished exactly at sunrise, calling it ‘Walt Weather’, I think today was ‘Roy Weather’. Roy may be physically gone, but he will be remembered forever.

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:11 PM Post #9 of 15 (12561 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Photos from Morning Light movie premiere. Attachments: ML Premier crew.jpg (125 KB)   Roy and mickey minnie2.jpg (75.6 KB)

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:15 PM Post #10 of 15 (12558 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Photos from Mary Longpre Attachments: ROY DISNEY-SWORD 4-97 sm.jpg (79.2 KB)   ROY DISNEY 4-98 sm.jpg (72.0 KB)

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:16 PM Post #11 of 15 (12556 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply Post on Scuttleblog: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/.../roy-disney-rip.html - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

The Publisher ***** Dec 17, 2009, 5:54 PM Post #12 of 15 (12541 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply From Doran Cushing: I was surprised and saddened to hear about the loss of Roy Disney. There are two memories that come to mind immediately about the gentleman sailor. Having worked for the Disney Corporation in Burbank in the 1980s, I recall the story about how Disney had never done (in that era) an "R" rated movie with one exception, sorta. Roy had produced a documentary film about the Newport to Ensenada Race and the salty language would have earned the film an "adult" rating...in the era of Herbie Goes Bananas and the Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. An in 1999 Disney's magic cat Pyewacket took line honors in the Pineapple Cup race to Jamaica. Burned into my memory chip is the image of crew celebrating after crossing the finish line in the dark of night, all illuminated by the glow of flares, and each of the committed crew wearing their Mickey Mouse ears for the victory dance. Ironically, the late Steve Faucett also competed that year in the tri Lakota but mention is hard to find in the race records. And our local connection to Roy Disney came in the form of the Morning Light project with Sarasota sailor Chris Branning a part of the crew of young sailors who took on the TransPac with Roy's immense support. Sail on, Roy, sail on.

jwlord@MAC.COM ** Dec 17, 2009, 8:56 PM Post #13 of 15 (12451 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply I, too, was saddened to hear of Roy E's passing yesterday. He was such a genuine, friendly gentleman as well as a great yachtsman... to say we have lost a great one seems insufficient. I first met Roy in HI in 97. We were all gathered there to wait for the boats to come in, wondering who would be first. I had many friends who were on the crew, so I was at the dock when Pye pulled in- Barn Door in hand. A glorious spread of pupus and coconut drinks were served for everyone to celebrate into the wee hours and the first signs of daylight. I was overwhelmed when Roy and his wife asked me if I would like to join them at the celebratory crew dinner that night at the yacht club. It was the stuff one can only dream of. Over the years, as our paths crossed, he always remembered me and was kind enough to ask how my program was going. The last time I saw him was in early January of 2000 at the St Francis. He and I were the 1999 recipients of the club's yachtsman/yachtswoman of the year. His family's table was right next to my table of friends and family and I recall the friendly banter back and forth throughout dinner. Then it was time for the trophy presentation. Not being one that gets chances to speak to huge audiences, I had no idea what I was going to say. I was called to the podium by the commodore, who babbled on in a voice that, to me, sounded very much like the teacher in the Charlie Brown movies, and then he handed the mike to me. Blank silence. I started off with lots of thank you's... to my dedicated crew, to the yacht club for all their support, to my sister for dog sitting, to Buddy for just being Buddy, the lord Jesus and running out of much else to say, I raised the trophy in the air and locked eyes with Roy - for I knew he would upstage me w/ his eloquent, pre-prepared speech. The commodore asked me what was next for me and I answered that I was on the morning's plane back to Key West for race week and aping every NFL/NBA player who, when asked "what's next?" out of my mouth came these words: "and then i'm goin to didzney lan!" No, I did not spike the trophy, but everyone got a good laugh at my expense. Roy Pat, if you see this, know that my heart is with you and Thank You. jessica winslow lord

The Publisher ***** Dec 18, 2009, 3:01 PM Post #14 of 15 (12205 views) Shortcut Re: [jwlord@MAC.COM] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply      "I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails in the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she is only a ribbon of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There! She is gone!' "Gone where? Gone from my sight---that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her and just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There! She is gone!" there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "There! She comes!" Howard D. Paul

The Publisher ***** Jan 10, 2010, 7:01 PM Post #15 of 15 (11745 views) Shortcut Re: [Tunces] Roy Disney - RIP [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply I attended the Celebration of Life for Roy Disney on January 9, 2010 at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. I didn't know Roy particularly well, but feel like I do know. After hearing many of his friends speak of him, it would seem that the classic saying of wealth and dying needs to be ammended. Instead of "He who dies with the most toys wins", it should be "He who dies with the respect of others wins". The Disney fortune gave Roy a pot of gold, but that didn't mean he had to be a nice guy. But he chose to be a nice guy, a humble guy, a gracious guy, a guy that loved PBJs, a guy that enjoyed sailing for the right reasons. A guy that a lot of people will miss. Photos: 1163 - Robbie Haines and Leslie DeMeuse-Disney 1164 - Slideshow 1165 - Morning Light team in background - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Attachments: IMG_1163.jpg (146 KB)   IMG_1164.jpg (112 KB)   IMG_1165.jpg (138 KB)

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