Animation World Loses Forgotten Gem. Milt Neil Pased away.

>>>
                      The Animation World has lost a forgotten gem. 
                                            Animator Milt Neil. 
   Milt was a student of Norman Rockwell's at Pratt. He later became a Disney
 Animator and worked on everything from "The Three Little Pigs", "Snow White",
 "Dumbo", "Three Caballeros" and "Fantasia"  among several other Features. 
   His credits are too lengthy to mention for he was known as a "Duck-Man", one
 who specialized in Donald Duck animation for countless shorts. He created
 "Howdy Doody" and all of the supporting characters as well as creating the
 Classic boardgames: "CandyLand" and "Chutes & Ladders". 
   Milt has done so much for Animation by teaching hundreds of artists the
 secrets of Classical Animation while running the Animation Department at the
 Joe Kubert School in New Jersey. His love for Animation was so genuine and he
 seemed so compelled to keep learning by animating all the time that he was
 inspirational to everyone around him.
    He was an avid golfer and still flew his own plane well into his 70's! He
 was fully animated himself!
    I remember Milt telling me that as payment for the years of  priceless
 education he was handing me that I promise to teach, as he did, to those who
 are hungry for Animation. To pass the torch. 
   Milt Neil breathed Life into so many Disney characters from Donald Duck to
 Timothy Mouse and the Reluctant Dragon. His Legacy will live on as part of the
 Spirit of  Animation and I feel blessed to have known such a wonderful  human
 being.
   So I watch Fantasia and a tear comes to my eye as I watch the cherubs in the
 Pastoral sequence that he animated. That's how I will forever remember my
 friend.
   Milt, we miss you. Rest in Peace.
               Your Student
<<<