Does anybody know what tie this man had to the JW's? He was well-respected at Disney World. His memorial service will be at the Kingdom Hall. Of course, as the article says, you are welcome to send donations to the Kingdom Hall in lieu of flowers!
Disney imagineer and Mickey Mouse watch designer dies
- Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
- September 11, 2007
Ralph Kent, who designed the first adult Mickey Mouse watch in the 1960s and went on to be a design leader and instructor for Walt Disney Imagineering at Walt Disney World, has died in Kissimmee at age 68.
Kent spent 41 years as a designer and teacher at the Walt Disney Co., and was named to the company's "Disney Legends" hall of fame in 2004, the year he retired.
Born Ralph Kwiatkowski on Jan. 28, 1939, he joined Disney in 1963 and in 1965 designed the first limited-edition Mickey Mouse watch for adults, which Walt Disney presented to 25 of his top executives.
He arrived at Walt Disney World in 1971 as a designer and by the end of the 1970s he oversaw the Walt Disney Imagineering staff support for Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland. In 1990 he joined the Disney Design Group as a corporate trainer, mentoring new artists and creating an extensive reference collection of character model sheets.
Marty Sklar, executive vice president and Imagineering Ambassador, called Kent "A real 'pixie' -- a big guy with a soft manner and always warm smile."
Independent Disney author Lou Mongello, host of the WDW radio show podcast, (wdwradio.com,) called Kent "an incredible individual" whose legacy is assured, not just from his own designs, but from the next generation of designers he trained.
He is survived by his wife Linda; daughters Julie Lowery and Laura Hilgenfeldt; stepson Scott Dobek, Michael Dobek and David Gonos; sister Joan Grabowski; and brother Larry Kwiatkowski.
Funeral arrangements are being made by the Grissom Funeral Home, 803 Emmett St., in Kissimmee.
A gathering of friends will celebrate his life Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
On Saturday a memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1525 Mill Slough in Kissimmee. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses will be welcomed.