Rest In Play - 2020 - 2029

Mike Gull passed away in November 2024. Mike was known for his 40+ year career in the television broadcasting industry, most of which he spent at GMTV, now known as ITV Breakfast Broadcasting Limited.... Friends and colleagues described him as an expert in the media world—the leading kids' broadcaster in the UK. Mike, along with his close friend and colleague Clive Crouch, sought to establish partnerships across the toy community as well, which was quite revolutionary compared to competitors, who forged these relationships through ad agencies and media companies. Mike is remembered as a larger than life kind of guy who brought warmth, humor, and connection to every interaction. He will be deeply and dearly missed by all those that knew and loved him.Show more

Britt Allcroft, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, was born on December 14, 1943 and passed away on December 25, 2024. She was 81 years old. Britt was born Hilary Mary Allcroft Coote. Gro...wing up, she shared a home with an aunt who often told stories of her daily commute on the train, which sparked Britt's love of trains at a young age. She changed her name to Britt at age 16, when her British radio and television presence gained momentum. She ended up creating a bunch of popular programmes for BBC and ITV throughout the 1970s and 1980s, like Moon Clue Game and Dance Crazy. In 1979, Britt was making a documentary about British steam locomotives when she was introduced to Wilbert Awdry, author of The Railway Series, a children's book series. She told him that she wanted to bring his stories to life and secured rights through his publishers at the time, Kaye & Ward. The next year, she co-founded Britt Allcroft Railway Productions, later known as The Britt Allcroft Company, with her husband, Angus Weight, who was a television producer. Four years later, the first two episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends debuted, with narration by Ringo Starr and music by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell. The series was an immediate hit, and Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends became a franchise that is still popular among kids today, decades later. Britt and her husband Angus were married from 1973 until 1997. They had two children together.Show more

Matilde Brualdi Clementoni passed away on November 18, 2024 at the age of 93. Originally from Pesaro in Italy, Matilde moved to Recanti to pursue an entrepreneurial dream. She and her husband, Mari...o, co-founded Clementoni, a family owned Italian business specializing in toys and games. In the late 1990s, Matilde and Mario left their business to their four children, who still head the company. The first board game and the founding of Clementoni came in the early 1960s, and has only grown since then, holding true to the mantra that began with Matilde and Mario: "to stir emotions in children as they grow through play."Show more

Amber Cook passed away unexpectedly on October 25, 2024. Amber's career was spent within the toy industry: she mostly worked behind-the-scenes roles in business development and branding for dozens ...of games. She worked for companies including Looney Labs, Asmodee Group, and Roll20. She was also involved in the re-launch of Free RPG Day, and was a founding member of the American Tabletop Awards. She was the fundraising co-hair for Rose Gauntlet Foundation, and was playing a crucial role in the rebranding of her partner's store, Games and Stuff. Amber leaves behind her partner, Paul Alexander Butler, and her six-year-old son, James. As Paul describes her, she was "one f the brightest, most selfless and hard-working people" and "a natural leader and a titan in the tabletop games industry." She was "a champion of misfits and underdogs, Amber made every room she was in safer for those around her, was outspoken in pursuit of justice no matter the personal cost, and was a testament to pursuing a career of passion without ego - working hard every day not only to support her son, but to make the world a bit more beautiful, and a bit more playful for everyone."Show more

Chris Wiggs, inventor of Polly Pocket, was born in 1950 and passed away on June 20th, 2024. He was 74. Chris came up with the idea for Polly Pocket in 1983 while visiting New York. When he returned... home to France, he went straight to his workshop and brought the concept to life for his daughter, Kate, using an old makeup powder compact. Kate recalls that her father making her things like this was a regular occurrence—"the most natural thing in the world," she called it. Polly Pocket wasn't anything more than Kate's plaything until 1989, when Chris rediscovered his creation and thought that he might be able to make something big. Soon, Bluebird Toys licensed the toys, and in the late 1990s, Mattel acquired both Bluebird Toys and Polly Pocket, and in its new home at Mattel, Polly Pocket became incredibly successful. Outside of inventing, Chris loved music and spending time with his family: his wife, Carolyn, his daughter, Kate, his son, Ben, and five grandchildren.Show more

Ranjit Kaur Dhutti passed away surrounded by her family on October 24, 2024 after a year-long illness. Ranjit began her career in the toy industry at Leap Frog, before moving to Spin Master in 2015.... She spent seven years there and played a role in the launch of numerous well-known brands including Hatchimals, Colleggtibles, and Purse Pets. In 2022, she joined MGA as a manager for LOL Surprise!, and immediately put her marketing skills to work with LOL Surprise! Magic Flyers, which were hugely successful and went on to win a DreamToys Award in 2023.Show more

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, known professionally as the Brothers Hildebrandt, were born on January 23, 1939. Tim passed away on June 11, 2006, and Greg passed away on October 31, 2024. Greg and Tim s...tudied at the Meinzinger Art School and began painting professionally, together, in 1959. They are best known for their Lord of the Rings calendar illustrations, for illustrating comics for Marvel Comics Nd DC Comics, original oil paintings for a limited edition of Terry Brooks's The Sword of Shannara, and their Magic: The Gathering and Harry Potter illustrations for Wizards of the Coast. Tim won the 1992 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist. Greg won the 2010 Chesley Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists. Both were awarded the Inkpot Award in 1995, and they were together awarded the Gold Medal by the Society of Illustrators.Show more

Mel Appel was born on May 9, 1930 and passed away on October 30, 2024 at the age of 94. Mel attended Arts High School in New Jersey and stayed close to home for college, attending Newark School of... Fine and Industrial Arts. After graduating, he began his nearly five-decade career as a toy designer. He created numerous toys, many of which captured his great sense of humor and fearless approach to design.Show more

Ace Edward Fogarty was born on July 30, 1944 and passed away on August 13, 2024 at the age of 80. He was the inventor of Glo Worm, among many other toys. He leaves behind his wife, Bonnie, and will be... dearly missed.Show more

Loren Hildebrand was born in 1939 and passed away on October 8, 2024. Loren attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and earned a degree in Economics before getting his MBA from the Universi...ty of Washington. After graduating, he joined Mattel, where he spent two and a half decades of his career. Rising through the ranks to eventually become Executive Vice President of Mattel Toys, Loren loved going to work every day. After 24 years, he joined Bandai to launch Toy Soldiers, afterwards joining Galoob, where he assisted in the launch of the Star Wars brand. Loren was also on a variety of boards and committees. He enjoyed watching sports, playing golf and tennis, hosting dinner parties, and spending time with his family. He will be deeply and dearly missed by all those that knew and loved him.Show more