Ivan Reitman, the producer-director behind many iconic comedies such as “Ghostbusters” and “Animal House” died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 12, his family confirmed in a statement. He was 75. “Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” Reitman’s children said in a joint statement to The Associated Press. “We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.” Reitman was residing in his Montecito, California home at the time he passed away. The cause of death has not been released. Born in then-Czechoslovakia in 1946, Reitman’s family escaped to Canada as refugees when the communists began imprisoning capitalists after the war. They fled the country when Reitman was …