Roy Disney Succumbs to Cancer

One of the world’s preeminent yachtsmen, Roy E. Disney, passed away earlier today in Newport Beach — less than a month from his 80th birthday — after a year-long bout with stomach cancer. Although better known to the non-sailor for his machinations at Walt Disney Company, he was known to sailors for his active campaigning in the ULDB 70 and MAXz 86 classes and his philanthropic exploits. On the sailing side, this took the form of considerable support to US Sailing, youth sailing in California, Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing and Seamanship, and the Morning Light project, to name a few. We’ll have a more complete picture of his life in the January issue of Latitude 38, and invite you to share your recollections of him with us here.