Robert F. Brunner

Robert Francis Brunner, 70, a staff composer for Walt Disney Studios who scored such films as "That Darn Cat!" and "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes," died Jan. 5 in his sleep at his Moorpark home, said Barbara Singleterry, his niece. A cause of death was not disclosed.

While working for Disney from 1963 to 1980, Brunner also composed the scores for "Blackbeard's Ghost," "The Boatniks," "The Barefoot Executive" and about 15 other movies. He also wrote music for dozens of episodes of the "Walt Disney" TV anthology series.

In the 1984 book "How to Be Like Walt," Brunner credited Walt Disney with teaching him to "never settle for less" than the highest quality.

For 15 years, beginning in 1956, Brunner was the conductor and commanding officer of the state's 562nd Air National Guard Band. He often recruited studio musicians to serve in the reserve unit.

Born Jan. 9, 1938, in Pasadena, Brunner grew up in Brentwood and was leading his own 20-piece dance band at 11, his niece said. He studied music for a year at UCLA.