Tom Fitzgerald has retired from Walt Disney Imagineering after 47 years with The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed the retirement in an August 2 statement.
Fitzgerald joined WED Enterprises, the company that became Walt Disney Imagineering, in 1979. His work covered story development, script writing, creative direction and media production for Disney parks on several continents.
From Star Tours to Cosmic Rewind
Fitzgerald was the original writer and producer for Star Tours, then continued as creative director as the attraction evolved. His credits also include Mickey's PhilharMagic, the Ratatouille attraction and restaurant at Disneyland Paris and EPCOT, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.
He remained involved in current Disney work late in his career. Disney Parks Blog identified Fitzgerald as the creative leader behind Soarin' Across America, while The Walt Disney Company credited him with guiding the storytelling for Walt Disney: A Magical Life at Disneyland.
Fitzgerald's long run covered attraction production and the creative direction of Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Imagineering's retirement announcement did not include a successor or details about Fitzgerald's next projects.
Sources: BlogMickey's report, Disney D23, Disney Parks Blog and The Walt Disney Company.
Image: BlogMickey.