Guy Day Remembered

Earlier today, TBWA announced that Guy Day—the Day of Chiat/Day—had passed away in his sleep on Saturday at the age of 77. Day had co-founded Chiat/Day with Jay Chiat in 1968, after Day's former partner Tom Faust had left his previous company Faust/Day. The new agency, as we all know, went on to create some of the industry's most iconic work, including Apple's famous "1984" spot.

TBWA Wordwide CCO Lee Clow offered his thoughts of the agency's co-founder: "Guy made me sane while Jay made me crazy. He taught me a lot of things, like how to understand Jay. I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for Guy."

TBWA Worldwide CMO Laurie Coots, who was a Chiat/Day secretary back in the day, also wrote a moving tribute to Day on the agency blog JayDay.org. She remembers Day as a "brilliant storyteller," crediting him in large part for the agency's "no-nonsense ethos." She also recounts a famous coin toss that set the stage for the agency's "total distaste for hierarchy and any trace of organizational politics" and Day's bold new biz move for Western Harness Racing that made him the stuff of legend. More on those, and others' memories here.

Day is survived by his wife Annette, his daughter Colleen, his sons Bill and Cameron and four grandchildren. The family will be holding a private ceremony through the Neptune Society.