Richard P. Kempster, exec producer at visual effects and character animation at studio Kleiser-Walczak, died March 28, 2004 at his home in Seal Beach, California after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He was 57.

Kempster, a native of Long Beach, worked in computer animation for 18 years, most recently overseeing project development and production at Kleiser-Walczak's Santa Monica studio. He contributed to the company's work on several films including MASK 2, FRIDA, X2, THE ONE and ROSE RED. He also produced interactive synthespian models for Ray Kurzweil’s “Ramona” performance project at "TED11."

Before joining Kleiser-Walczak (www.kwcc.com), Kempster held sales positions at EMC Corp., Viewpoint Data Labs and Alias|Wavefront. Throughout his career, he specialized in providing entertainment companies with new technologies to serve their creative goals.

Kleiser-Walczak founders Jeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak said, “We have had the privilege of knowing Rich since we formed our company in 1987. He was our ally and mentor at Wavefront Technologies, and continued to work with us throughout our history… We enjoyed his camaraderie and indefatigable spirit and we enjoyed the adventures he would show us on his beloved boat… His loss will weigh heavily on all those who knew him and all those who loved him.”

Kempster served as secretary of the Tichenor Orthopedic Clinic for Children in Long Beach, where he had been a polio patient as a child. He was also an avid yachtsman.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Llewellyn; his brother, film score mixer Steve Kempster; two daughters, a grandson and his mother.

A memorial service was held April 8 at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Tichenor Orthopedic Clinic for Children in Long Beach.