Lillian Disney – Who Was the Woman Behind Walt Disney?

Who Was Lillian Disney? Part Two: The Wife and Philanthropist

Did you catch my first part of “Who Was Lillian Disney?” that I began writing when I recently talked to another homeschooling about their study unit on Walt Disney World?  One of the books their 4^th grader has been reading on her Kindle is called “Who Was Walt Disney?” http://www.amazon.com/Who-Walt-Disney-Was-ebook/dp/B0026SCMOQ and after talking to her, I decided I needed to know more, because her story is pretty fascinating!

During her 98 years, Lillian was a wife, mother, and philanthropist. She and Walt married in 1925, and for the next 4 decades, she was content to be the “woman behind the man” and focus on raising their two daughters. But did you know, she wasn’t one to just let her husband make business decisions without a bit of strife? Lillian Disney was known for challenging nearly every business decision Walt made! Can you imagine if he had listened about creating Disneyland and NOT gone into the theme park business? Oh my! I know for sure that MY family’s life would be a lot different!

When Walt Disney died in 1966, Lillian became very involved in charitable giving. I’m sure her husband would have been so proud, because most of her charitable work involved children and the arts – two things that Walt felt very strongly about. She was instrumental in founding the California Institute of the Arts, which has graduated many talented animators over the years.  Perhaps her largest (at least financially) gift to the arts was in 1987. Lillian made a donation of $50 million to the Music Center of Los Angeles so that they could build a world-class concert hall. Named very appropriate in my mind, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the LA Philharmonic. It makes me sad to think that Mrs. Disney never saw this project completed, as it opened a few years after she died.

I have lots more interesting facts and information about Lillian Disney, so keep an eye on my blog, www.familyfindsfun.com  in the coming weeks for more on this fascinating “woman behind the man.”