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Ray Dolby
Ray Dolby, on September 12, 2013 in San Francisco of acute leukemia, although his recent years were clouded by Alzheimer's disease. He was 80 years old. Ray was an engineer, businessman, inventor of the Dolby noise reduction system, and founder of Dolby Laboratories.
Ray Dolby was born in Portland, Oregon in 1933 and raised on the San Francisco Peninsula. As a high school student, he started working for Ampex Corporation in Redwood City. While at Ampex, he was the chief designer of all electronic aspects of the first Video Tape Recorder, released in 1956.
In 1957, he received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He won a Marshall Scholarship, becoming a graduate student in physics at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1961 on the subject of long wavelength X-ray microanalysis. He was the first American Fellow at Pembroke College. While in Europe, he enthusiastically embraced its culture and explored the continent on many trips, including climbing the Matterhorn and traveling by motorcycle.
From 1963 to 1965, he held a UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) appointment as Technical Advisor to the Indian Government, where he taught the fledgling Indian scientific instruments industry to design better equipment.
Interested since his teenage years in improving audio and music recordings, he began his work on creating a system of reducing noise on magnetic audio tape recordings. In 1965, he returned to England to establish Dolby Laboratories, Inc. in London. His unique method, the Dolby System, was first used in professional audio recording in 1966.
Thanks to his pioneering work, the Dolby System became an integral part of consumer tape recording equipment, and propelled the audio cassette to a high-fidelity medium. In the early 1970s, the Dolby System was introduced to the optical analog audio track of film, where it became an industry standard. Building upon this, the company continued to improve its cinema and home theater technologies with Dolby Stereo and Dolby Surround, among many other products.
The company was held privately until 2005, when it went public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Ray was issued numerous patents for his work. He also published many scientific papers for the Audio Engineering Society and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Among his many honors and awards were the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 1997, and the Order of Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.) from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1987. He was awarded the Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1989, Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1989 and 2005, and a Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1995. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in the U.S. and the Royal Academy of Engineers in the U.K. in 2004. He also received multiple awards and medals from professional and trade organizations in the audio and film industries, including the Berlinale Kamera Award in 2012 and the George Gund III Award from the San Francisco Film Society in 2013.
In 2012, the official home of the Academy Awards in Hollywood was re-named the Dolby Theatre. A ballroom where the annual Academy Governors Ball is held became the Ray Dolby Ballroom.
Ray was always interested in technical and mechanical endeavors. Motorcycles, cars, boats, buses, and airplanes all held his interest for many years. In 1989, he custom designed a 40-foot bus in order to take his family on trips around the national parks. A ye later, he became a pilot, eventually flying a Cessna Citation CJ2 jet and a turbine helicopter that he liked to land on the lawn of his Lake Tahoe home.
Ray was an avid traveler around the world. When he completed his job in India in 1965, he and Dagmartraveled back to Europe overland in a VW bug. He also prided himself to have landed his plane in almost all 50 states and 30 countries, as well as crossing the Atlantic seventeen times single-handedly.
In the field of philanthropy, Ray and Dagmar supported stem cell research by helping to fund a building at the University of California San Francisco. They also supported the new Brain Health Center at California Pacific Medical Center. Ray was a longstanding member of the board of the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Symphony.
He was also a member of the Pacific Union Club and St. Francis Yacht Club.
He is survived by Dagmar, his wife of 47 years, his sons, Tom and David, their spouses, Andrew and Natasha, his four grandchildren, and one brother, Dale.
Donations may be made in Ray Dolby's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 1060 La Avenida Street, Mountain View, CA 94043 or to the Brain Health Center, c/o CPMC Foundation, 45 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94117.
A celebration of Ray Dolby's life will be held at a future date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
The world sounds better because of you, Ray. Thanks for everything.
Jay
Other
February 11, 2024
Valenda Newell
November 8, 2016
I first met Ray as a small child. His father Earl and my grandfather Ralph Eastland were first cousins and grew up together. I didn't know Ray that well but his parents often came to visit us in Bakersfield and I heard stories about his endeavors through the years. When I was about 8 y/o Ray sent me a beautiful pink and silver sari from India which I still have to this day. I remember him as a very smart, thoughtful, and kind man. I was very sorry to hear of his passing and offer my sincere condolences to his family.
Jean McAbee
June 17, 2016
Dear Sir,
Im from india, you started your carrier here and made a legacy for sound lovers. Im planning to built a website www.raydolby.com in your memory. Rest in peace
Francisco Fernandes
October 17, 2013
My thoughts are with you Dagmar. What a life and love, you shared Ray with the world. He changed the world with you by his side.
Your friend,
Julie Klee
October 8, 2013
I was saddened to learn of Ray's passing and I send my sincere condolences to Dagmar and the Dolby family. Ray worked at Ampex with my father in law, E. M ‘Al' Lewis who thought the world of Ray. And when Ray and Dagmar took the time to adjust a travel schedule just to attend Al's 95th birthday party, it really made Al proud. Ray was a kind and thoughtful man as well as a brilliant sound engineer. He will be missed.
Joni Lewis
September 23, 2013
My husband Robert F.O'Connell helped Ray get his
first patent for noise reduction. It was a good
time for both. My condolences. Ellen E.
O'Connell,
Cape Cod, MA.
September 22, 2013
While working for Rosano Co. I Built Mr. Dolby's
first office, in SF. He was a wonderful person to deal with for that short time.
September 17, 2013
Although I don't know Mr. Dolby I know he was an amazing man. I'm a Realtor and had been driving through SF about a month or so ago and saw the most amazing house. Come to find out it was Mr. Dolby's. How incredible it that...Thank you for all that you've done Mr. Dolby. We were Blessed to have known you. My condolences to the family. May God Bless you all and keep you under His wings.
Tammy Zapata
September 17, 2013
Death will soon be no more . I send my condolences
September 16, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
G. Freeman
September 16, 2013
To the family of MR RAY DOLBY I send my condolences for your lost.During this difficult time I hope you draw comfort from the GOD of comfort. ISAIAH 61,1,2.
sincerely
Ms Carruth
September 16, 2013
Such a kind and brilliant man. The world is poorer for it's loss. I had the opportunity to work at the Sansome St. office and have not had a more fascinating job with more dedicated people, before or since. The world is better because of you, Ray; and it will dearly miss you. Dagmar, may God bless you and your family.
Alyson Donohue Sylva
September 16, 2013
With love & prayers for you Dagmar, Tom and David. I feel blessed to have been able to work for Ray at the Sansome Street office. He was such a kind, caring & amazing person, who will be missed by so very many people. I will always cherish my memories of knowing all of you. Lynn Newton Sogoian, Red Bluff, Ca
Lynn Sogoian
September 15, 2013
Prayers and sympathy are sent to the family at this sad time. Let the Almighty God grant you peace and comfort during the difficult days ahead. Romans 15:33
September 15, 2013
I have always admired the genius of his work. May he rest in peace. Comfort and healing to family and friends.
LA Wood
Laura Anderson Wood
September 15, 2013
May the Father of tender mercies give the Dolby family the strength to endure their loss. May he prove to be a refuge during this time of distress.
cg
September 14, 2013
a
A quiet genius; a kind friend; a very loving father and husband. So very special. The world needs more like Ray.
Lani Mein
September 14, 2013
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."-Psalm 116:15. May Ray rest in Peace.
+Metropolitan Ephraem Bertolette
September 14, 2013
Dagmar, I still remember how you and Ray welcomed Bob and me and Joe and Nina to London in 1970. That vision of the two of you waving to us is implanted in my memory. You both changed our lives forever. Be well and know that you and Ray were loved and that's what counts.
Riva Berkovitz
September 14, 2013
September 14, 2013
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
September 14, 2013
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ray.May we be comforted and strengthen from the words of our Heavenly Father who cares much about us ,in this time of grief.Jeremiah 29:11. Seta
September 14, 2013
Oh Dagmar, my heart is heavy at reading about Rays passing. I wish I was there with you. I will be there if at all possible for the service for him. Much love to you and the boys, BJ and Randy Von Netzer
Barbe Von Netzer
September 13, 2013
Rest in Peace.
September 13, 2013
may you find comfort in the happy memories of your loved one until you are reunited.
September 13, 2013
A genius of an engineer, but what a marvelous, completely approachable, fine human being. You remember people with these qualities. Best to the family.
Bob Koch
September 13, 2013
Elsa and I were saddened to hear the news of Ray's demise. We were neighbors and friends of Ray and Dagmar and we wish the family our sincere sympathies during this difficult time. With love, Rennie and Elsa Spaulding
Stephen Spaulding
September 13, 2013
My heartfelt wishes go out to Ray's wife Dagmar, his sons and all his family. He was the most modest of geniuses, a kind and soft-spoken man who changed the world for the better in so many ways. Once again, you all have my sincerest sympathies. Hal Kaufman
Hal Kaufman
September 13, 2013
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
G. Freeman
September 13, 2013
My condolences to the family. What a talent he had. May he rest in peace.
JC
September 13, 2013
Rest in Peace
Scott Chamberland
September 13, 2013
As a Stanford grad we would expect nothing less. Harry Eccles (glen glen) was the pioneer in pictures sound, Ray
improved on it like most inventions !
He Dolby, mastered it, what a way to go>..
Vic Bulaich
September 13, 2013
Brilliance comes in many forms. Edison, Les Paul,Marconi. They had a vision, Ray's was appling science and technlogy to raising the bar of sound. As he will be missed, he will be remembered.
David Widrich
September 13, 2013
rip
michelle plakas-kaiser
September 13, 2013
R.I.P. Mr. Dolby. Your contributions to the sound industry will live on for a long, long time.
Richard Beard
September 13, 2013
Anyone who remembers cassette tapes understands what a boon Dolby noise reduction was to the music industry. Thank you Mr Dolby.
Jim Faughnan
September 12, 2013
DOLBY FAMILY AND CORP.
This is to express my deepest sympathy during your loss. Remember Ray not only for his achievement and success but for his genuine character. Cherish these memories within your heart. Allow the Creator of life to soothe your ache with his promises of renewed life on earth.
JOHN 5:25 The hour is coming and it is now when all those in grave will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who have given heed will live.
September 12, 2013
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