Roy H. Slavin

Born in Washington, DC, on September 24, 1945, and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and Detroit, MI, Roy attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, followed by law school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He left law school without graduating and performed a leveraged buyout of Standard Grigsby in 1973—before anyone even knew the term.

A dynamic entrepreneur, Roy became a global technology leader and served in senior executive roles in the areas of finance, manufacturing, electronics and software development. During his career, he was involved in the acquisition of more than 20 companies in the United States, China, Germany, France, Switzerland and England, and also founded companies in India, Korea and Japan. His credentials include being President and CEO of Potter & Brumfield, a Siemens subsidiary in Princeton, IN; President and CEO of Siemens Industrial Automation in Atlanta, GA; and CEO and Chairman of the Board of Wonderware Software in Irvine, CA.

Roy also served on numerous Boards including President George H. W. Bush and President Clinton’s Jobs For America 2000 Board of Directors and The Supplier Council for General Motors.

After he announced his retirement in 1999, Roy quickly launched into a second career as a mixed media artist. He discovered that if he combined his industrial background with the artistic process he could tell compelling visual stories centered around a character he called “Nowhere man,” inspired by his favorite Beatles song. In 2003, he received the Best New Artist Award at the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival and eventually sold one of his paintings to then Senator Obama at an auction in Chicago.

Often thought of as larger than life, he mentored many and often helped those who had been less fortunate overcome rough patches and develop the inner tenacity and confidence to grow and succeed. He was beloved by many, a seeker across spiritual traditions, and a devilishly irreverent yet compassionate soul. In short, he was one of a kind, and will be profoundly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Melba, sons Scott (Valerie) and Sean (Rebecca), daughter Jennifer (Craig) Lyons, and grandchildren Mitchell, Madeline, Dillen, Roxy and Piper.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, February 22, at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar. The burial will be private.

Donations in memory of Roy can be made to L.A. Kids c/o Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann's Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.