You may not have known who Jay Chiat was, but I promise you've seen his work.

Noted as one of the WORLD's 10 most influential advertising giants, a visionary, founder of the legendary ad agency Chiat/Day (the agency responsible for the 1984 Apple commercial that is STILL considered the most important commercial ever, the famous minimalist Nike ads on the sides of buildings, the Energizer bunny and countless others), and the man credited with making Los Angeles an advertising powerhouse, Jay Chiat died on April 23 at the age of 70.

I think this quote brings the essence of the man to life:

I first met Jay while at a urinal in the men's room. It was 1977 and it was my second day on my first real job. He walked in, realized I was a new employee, and said "I'm Jay Chiat." (Due to the circumstances, our introductions avoided the use of hands.) I was so honored and nervous I could have ... well, thank God I was already in a men's room. That first meeting always summed up for me the contradictory nature of Jay's personality. His presence could make you feel simultaneously welcome and awkward. Whenever you encountered him, you never quite knew if he was going to praise or predigest you. Outside of my parents, I consider him to be the single greatest influence on my life. I inherited my passion and, unfortunately, my impatience from him. If there is a heaven, Jay is in it now and at peace. Or is he? My guess is that he is strolling around heaven, chiding God that the place would work better without the whole cloud thing.
--Steve Alburty (Chiat/Day 1977-1995)

The world has lost a great man. His memory, however, will be etched in history forever.

JAY CHIAT
1931-2002