Former Wife of Roy E. Disney Dies

Patricia Disney, whose former husband was the nephew of Walt Disney, died today. She was 77 and suffered from Alzheimer's disease, according to a family website.

Patricia Disney, who lived in , was vice chairman of Shamrock Holdings, the investment company for the Roy E. Disney Family.

She and the late Roy E. Disney, former vice chairman of the Walt Disney Co. and chairman of Shamrock, married in 1955 and divorced in 2007.

"On behalf of everyone at The Walt Disney Company, we mourn the loss of Patty Disney," Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said.

"Her passing marks a sad milestone for the Disney family, and we will always remember her irrepressible spirit and dedication to our company," he said. "Patty was known for her kindness, outgoing nature and especially for her philanthropy and will be missed by all who knew her."

Disney was born in New Orleans and moved to Toluca Lake as a child. Her future husband lived around the corner.

She attended the University of Colorado and then lived in New York, where she worked in the advertising field.     Disney was a former regent of St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., a past member of the board of the Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho, and a former trustee of Occidental College.

Among her legacies is the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, an outpatient center for cancer patients. Roy Disney died in December 2009, a few months before the center opened.

"All of us at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center are profoundly saddened to learn we have lost Patricia Disney, a wonderful and compassionate woman who shared our vision to provide the best possible care for cancer patients," said Barry Wolfman, the hospital's chief executive.

"She and her family have left our community a tremendous gift, a cancer center that provides compassionate care to patients at their most vulnerable," he said. "Her contributions are evident within the walls of this center, a place of healing. Our prayers are with Patricia's family, as is our gratitude."

The Disney family seeded the cancer center with a $10 million donation, sparking additional contributions to complete the project.

Her survivors include children Roy Patrick Disney, Susan Disney Lord, Abigail Disney and Timothy Disney and 17 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private.

Gifts in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association's Southern California Chapter in Los Angeles, or the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

A memorial website has been set up at www.welovepatty.com.