who steered the launch of A&E Network and History Channel, died Saturday at his home in Wilton, Conn. He was 79.
Raven, now chairman emeritus of A+E Networks, called Davatzes her “mentor, champion and dear friend” and a cable pioneer. Disney executive chairman Bob Iger hailed him as a “towering figure in the early days of cable television build some of the most iconic brands in the media landscape.” Iger added that he was “a person of true integrity.”
A native of New York, Davatzes was a Marine Corp. veteran who served from 1964 to 1965. Over his long career in media he earned many accolades from military service and related organizations, among a long list of civic and professional accolades. Among them were the National Humanities Medal presented by President George W. Bush in 2006, his 2005 induction into the Cable Television Hall of Fame and in 1989 he earned the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal from the French government.
And A&E used to be really classy...
Sources close to the family suspect aliens.