Close Menu
Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Threads
    Friday, July 11
    Trending
    • Terrifier is coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 in Orlando and Hollywood
    • Halloween Horror Nights 34 Frequent Fear Pass multi-night tickets now on Sale
    • Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 tickets go on sale July 25
    • What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025
    Inside Universal
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • Home
    • News
      • Hollywood
        • Photo Updates
        • CityWalk Hollywood
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood
        • Events
      • Orlando
        • Photo Updates
        • Universal Studios Florida
        • Islands of Adventure
        • Epic Universe
        • Universal’s Volcano Bay
        • CityWalk Orlando
        • Universal Resorts
        • Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando
        • Events
      • Japan
        • Photo Updates
        • Events
      • Singapore
      • Beijing
      • Other Universal Destinations
      • Outside Universal
        • Walt Disney World
        • SeaWorld Orlando
        • Around Orlando
        • Disneyland Resort
        • Knott’s Berry Farm
        • Around California
    • Forums
    • Inside Universal Podcast
    • Features
    • Merchandise
    Inside Universal
    Home»Universal Studios Hollywood»In Memoriam: Terry Winnick, Former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood

    In Memoriam: Terry Winnick, Former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood

    December 16, 2014 Universal Studios Hollywood By Jon Fu
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit Copy Link

    Terry Winnick, former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, passed away last month on November 25. He was 66.

    A Universal legend, pioneer, innovator and tour guide, Terry Winnick oversaw the crucial design, development and rise of Universal Studios Hollywood during its formative years. Winnick would later oversee the development and design of Universal Studios Florida, with particular focus on Universal’s opening attractions, including Back to the Future: The Ride, Kongfrontation, Earthquake and Jaws.

    In his later years, Winnick would later serve as the President of International Resort and Leisure Operations, an architectural firm based on Las Vegas, Nevada. The family wishes that donations be made to Positively Kids in the name of the Terry Winnick Memorial Fund.

    Jerry Green, former Director of Entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood, wrote the following eulogy about his former coworker.

    My Friend Terry Winnick

    “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

    Life is dotted with relationships that make up the fabric of our lifetime. One of those most cherished relationships that profoundly impacted my life was with my dear friend Terry Winnick. It’s with a broken heart that I write this tribute to him at his passing on Tuesday, November 25, 2014.

    As my wife commented yesterday as we both wept after hearing of Terry’s death, life is sprinkled with highlights as people drift in and out of our life. Terry was one of those highlights for me, and by extension, for my family.

    Terry and I began working at Universal Studios at almost the same time in 1968 and remained friends for over forty-five years. We began our “entertainment careers” as tour guides, thoroughly enjoying the experience. As the months and years slipped by Terry became more involved and focused in the management-and-design side of the business.

    He attended USC and graduated with a degree in architectural design. Over the next many years Terry became, both literally and figuratively, the architect of Universal Studios Hollywood.

    Although Terry and I didn’t see each other very often after we both left the Studio, it was a relationship of depth. I always thought of Terry more as a brother as well as a friend.

    I don’t believe in luck or coincidence, so I know our “meeting” last December (2013) was orchestrated by God as a Divine appointment. It had been several years since Terry and I last saw each other. My wife and I were visiting New York with our daughter and her family. While waiting to be seated in a restaurant in Manhattan I looked across the lobby and there was a familiar face, my friend Terry. It was a joyous reunion and we ended up having a most wonderful evening together. Terry lived in Las Vegas and I live in Southern California, so to “accidentally” run into him, in one of a bazillion restaurants in Manhattan, on the same evening, at the same time, both having to wait for a table, was most certainly not by chance. I am grateful to the Lord for that evening.

    Over the next several months we interacted over the phone, with plans to meet for dinner on his next trip to Southern Cal. He was gracious to help my son with interviews for Inside Universal regarding his days at the studio in its’ formative years; interviews that were never completed as Terry’s health began to deteriorate a few months ago.

    The verse quoted at the beginning of this tribute is from the book of James (chapter 4, verse 14), a short epistle in the Bible. And although Terry’s life seems to have ended much too quickly, he will certainly remain in my heart for a lifetime.

    I’m sure he never knew how much he impacted my life and so many others.

    You will be missed my dear friend.

    Jerry Green

    Terry Winnick Universal Studios Hollywood
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleUniversal Studios Japan – Part 2 – The Familiar
    Next Article Universal Studios Japan – Part 3 – The Different
    Jon Fu

    Related Posts

    Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood

    Terrifier is coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 in Orlando and Hollywood

    July 10, 2025
    Features

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025

    July 7, 2025
    CityWalk Hollywood

    Johnny Rockets closes at CityWalk Hollywood

    July 2, 2025
    LATEST POSTS

    Terrifier is coming to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 in Orlando and Hollywood

    July 10, 2025

    Halloween Horror Nights 34 Frequent Fear Pass multi-night tickets now on Sale

    July 10, 2025

    Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 tickets go on sale July 25

    July 8, 2025

    What’s Happening at the Universal Parks – Week of July 7, 2025

    July 7, 2025

    Johnny Rockets closes at CityWalk Hollywood

    July 2, 2025
    About Inside Universal

    Inside Universal is a website dedicated to covering Universal Parks & Resorts, specifically Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. Our team of editors is committed to providing fact-based, non-sensationalist content that educates and informs our readers while still focused on having fun.

    Inside Universal aims to maintain a rational perspective, allowing us to offer commentary, news, and analysis about Universal Parks. Our mission is to provide you, the reader, with accurate and in-depth reporting to the best of our ability. This is our goal - nothing more, nothing less.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON OUR FORUMS
    If you’re looking to have your Universal-related question answered, or if you’d simply like to chat about the park’s future developments, Inside Universal's forums is the Internet’s leading unofficial forum dedicated to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. MEI Travel
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Threads
    • About Us
    • Masthead
    • Contact
    • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2025 All Rights Reserved - Inside Universal is not affiliated with Comcast, NBCUniversal, Universal Parks & Resorts, or Universal Destinations & Experiences. You may not copy, redistribute, publish, sell, or otherwise make the original contents of this website available to third parties unless you have received prior authorization from Inside Universal.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT