This morning, I was up in San Francisco for a darned good reason: To speak at a lovely memorial service for one of the best human beings it has ever been my pleasure/honor/privilege (they all apply) to know…Lee Mendelson. I wrote about Lee here and here and here and here, and as I read them over now, I don't think any of them sufficiently conveyed just what a wise, kind man I knew him to be.
Yes, he produced the they'll-rerun-it-forever TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas and dozens of other Peanuts specials. Yes, he gave us other animated shows with characters like Garfield and Cathy and Mother Goose & Grimm, as well as dozens of live-action documentaries and films and specials. Yes, he had awards galore. All of that is true and it was all mentioned at the memorial today — a memorial, I should mention that was lavishly and lovingly produced by his kids. Maybe good producing skills are hereditary.
But we also talked about Lee the Man…the very human human being. In a time when there is way too much coarseness and shouting and knifing on this planet, it was wonderful to hear the stories about working with Lee.
And you know what else is wonderful to hear? David Benoit at the piano…maybe the best jazz musician working today. He did the music on many of Lee's shows and he took the time to be there and to talk about his association with Lee and to favor us with a recital. I was three feet from him as he was playing "Linus and Lucy" and I could feel the ripple effect as some in the room felt the electricity and others dove for the Kleenex. I will remember that performance for a long time.
There were touching words from Lee's past associates and members of the Mendelson family. His widow Ploenta delivered one of the most emotional and real speeches I've ever heard at this kind of event, and later, I got up and said some silly things. I was also pleased to see Phil Roman there. As recounted here, Lee helped Phil to establish one of the best animation studios in town and he, like all of us, was there to pay his respects.
There were so many great stories. I wish you'd all had the chance to know this guy.