Mendelson wrote the lyrics to "Christmas Time is Here," featured in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Over his career, he won 12 Emmys, four Peabody Awards, an Oscar nomination and two Grammy nominations, Variety reported.
He was also responsible for bringing “Garfield” to television, working with comic book strip creator Jim Davis.
In addition to children's programming, Mendelson produced documentaries and network specials showcasing entertainers and athletes including Paul Newman, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Whoopi Goldberg and Muhammad Ali, Variety reported.
Mendelson's survivors include his wife, Ploenta; children Glenn, Lynda, Jason and Sean; stepson Ken; and eight grandchildren, Variety reported.
To honor his memory, his family requests that donations be made in Mendelson's name to Second Harvest Food Bank, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank or the Television Academy Foundation.
About the Author