Looking Back: 2009 Orange County Deaths

​Turn on the weepy, string ensemble music: It's time for us to look back on the year that (almost) was and remember some of the figures from Orange County who have left us.

There was unexpected tragedy, there were some suspicious circumstances, there were rich legacies... there's even the possibility that a person or two on this list that miiight not even be missed by many.  Or, uh, at all. (We're just putting that last one out there.)

After the jump: 2009 Orange County deaths.

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Roy E. Disney
1930 - 2009
After battling stomach cancer, Roy E. Disney passed away on December 16 at the age of 79 at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. He was the nephew of Walt Disney and a longtime executive for the Walt Disney Company, which was founded by both Walt Disney and Roy E. Disney's father, Roy Oliver Disney. Many remember Roy E. Disney for his role in toppling two Disney execs, Ron Miller (1984) and Michael Eisner (2005).

Read the original breaking news post of Roy E. Disney's death here.



 

Shelly Castellano

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John Kissel
1966 - 2009
On September 9, a memorial gathering for Costa Mesa resident John Kissel, who died in an August 29 Lake Havasu cliff diving accident, happened northside at the Huntington Beach Pier. Over 150 surfers and friends gathered for a traditional surfers memorial service by paddling out on their boards and honoring their friend in the pacific ocean. Later, a memorial party took place at the Aloha Grill in Huntington Beach on Main Street. Friends and family of the former surfer spent time telling stories and sharing memories of their time with John.

See more photos of the memorial paddle-out and party here.