Frogboxer was posted on the GAC Forums:

Famed Disney storyman, character designer, and caricaturist Joe Grant has passed away. He was about a week shy of turning 97.

Jerry Beck has posted information on the Cartoon Brew. (http://www.cartoonbrew.com)

From MSNBC.com:

Disney ‘Snow White’ artist Joe Grant dies

He co-wrote ‘Dumbo’ and conceived of ‘Lady and the Tramp’

LOS ANGELES - Joe Grant, a legendary Disney artist who designed the Queen/Witch in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” died of a heart attack while doing what he loved most, drawing, the Walt Disney Co. said Monday.

Grant, 96, died at his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, last Friday while sitting at his drawing board.

He is best known for helping create Disney characters of old. He co-wrote “Dumbo,” about the elephant with ears so big he could fly, and Grant conceived of “Lady and the Tramp,” about two dogs from different backgrounds who fall love.

But even at his advanced age, Grant still worked four days each week at the film studio’s animation division, and he helped conceive the recent Oscar nominee for animated short film, “Lorenzo,” which was directed by Mike Gabriel.

“Despite his extraordinary accomplishments, Joe never lived in the past,” said film critic Leonard Maltin. “He was always on top of current films and trends and was the biggest cheerleader for young talent that you could imagine.”

Grant joined Disney in 1933. He left in 1949 when his ”Character Model” department was disbanded, and he went on to start several successful ventures including a ceramics studio and greeting card company.

After 40 years away, Grant returned in 1989 to consult on Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

He is survived by two daughters and grandchildren.