William Warner Lang

William Warner Lang, 90, physicist, b. Boston, Aug 9, 1926; d. Oct 23, 2016. The only son of William Warner and Lila Gertrude (Wheeler) Lang, Bill joined the Navy and served from 1944 to 1947. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve and was promoted to Captain in 1968. He studied physics and received BS and PhD degrees from Iowa State University and a MS from MIT. In the summer of 1954, he met the love of his life, Asta Ingard, visiting her brother, Uno, from Sweden. They were married 2 months later and spent nearly 50 happy years together. After finishing his PhD in acoustics in 1958, Bill was recruited by IBM to build an acoustics laboratory in Poughkeepsie and develop a noise control program for the company. In the early 1970's, Bill worked with Senate staff in Washington D.C. on details of what would become the Noise Control Act of 1972. This initiative led to the formation of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE) in 1971 of which he was a founding member. He was also a founder of the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering in 1974 and the INCE Foundation in 1993. Bill was recognized for his contributions to noise control throughout his career with fellowships in the Audio Engineering Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Acoustical Society of America and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was a fellow, Distinguished Noise Control Engineer and a past president of INCE/USA as well as an honorary member of the Institute of Acoustics (UK) and the National Council of Acoustical Consultants. He encouraged others to become engaged and was a mentor to many noise control engineers. The achievement he was most proud of was his election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1978. He was honored to represent IBM not just in the field of acoustics but all of engineering. He realized that IBM could benefit from a similar institution to recognize it's best engineers and nurture collaboration. He pushed his idea to create the IBM Academy of Technology which today boasts more than 800 members from 40 countries. Bill dedicated his career to influencing U.S. and global noise policies through annual INCE-sponsored international congresses now in their 44th year. His work continues today through the NAE Technology for a Quieter America initiative. Bill was an active member of the community. In his 'free' time, he counseled students as a member of the MIT Educational Council, started a Toastmasters Club which he attended every week, was an Adjunct Professor of Physics at Vassar College, a member and President of the Poughkeepsie/ Arlington Rotary Club and a devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir. Bill loved life and challenged himself mentally and physically everyday. He skied until he was 87, went to the gym and walked every morning. Always cheerful and positive, he loved his family, friends and animals, big and small.

He is survived by his son Robert, daughter in-law Bogumila, and 2 grandsons Lucjan Olaf and Colin.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, Nov 19, at Christ Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Poughkeepsie Journal on Oct. 30, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for William Lang

5 Entries

Lisa Prince Fishler

April 20, 2017

I am deeply saddened to learn of Bill's passing. I only knew him from the Vassar College gym, where I saw him every morning for years and years. Extremely kind, I had nothing but respect for him. My sincere condolences to his family for his loss.

Allan Pierce

November 19, 2016

I knew Bill over many years, but not as well as I should have, and I regret not having known him better in earlier years. We interacted considerably in the past couple of years, largely as a result of the passing of his brother-in-law, Uno Ingard, who we both greatly admired and who we both wanted to see was properly memorialised.

My earlier interactions with Bill were largely though our mutual participation in the activities of the Acoustical Society of America. He was long active in the ASA, served as Chair of the Noise Technical Committee from 1967-1969, served on the Executive Council from 1984-1987, and later as Treasurer from 1994-99. The system of accounting and for planning the budget that the ASA currently uses was set up by Bill. In 1984 he received the ASA's Silver Medal in Noise "For significant technical contributions to noise control, for sustained national and international leadership in noise and electroacoustics standards, and for advancing the professional status of noise control engineering." He was the third recipient of this prestigious medal.

I greatly admired Bill for his personal traits as well as for his professional abilities. He was very competent at whatever he did, was self-effacing, and had a knack of making other people feel comfortable. He was an outstanding leader in the profession. He epitomized the noise control profession to me. What he had done at IBM in regard to noise control was a legend throughout the community. He seemed to be very knowledgeable about almost anything connected to noise control.

His was a great life, and I consider myself privileged to have known him.

Angelo Campanella

November 17, 2016

I met Bill briefly a few times on ISO acoustical committees. His enthusiasm and energy were always impressive. The science of acoustics profited immensely from his presence and contributions.

Carol Carson

November 15, 2016

I worked with Bill many years ago in the acoustic lab. He was an amazing person and co-worker. I had the fortunate luck to engage with him once again through his son, Bob. Like when I first worked with him, he was enlightened and bright. We have lost a wonderful man, but how lucky we were to have known him. My deepest sympathies to his family on their loss.

Robert Blue

November 15, 2016

Bill and I met in 1956 when I joined IBM's product development laboratory in Poughkeepsie. His professionalism and vision as a scientist was unmatched. IBM benefited in innumerable ways from his innovations in reducing noise from its products. But more importantly he pioneered acoustic science and engineering and created an awareness of the importance of considering it in the development of all products.

Bill was a great man, a good friend and I will miss him. I saw him in April for the last time and I'm sorry I can't travel to be at his service on Saturday.

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