Dolby Laboratories Thursday announced that Ray Dolby, an
American inventor recognized around the world for developing groundbreaking
audio technologies, died today at his home in San Francisco, at the age of 80.
Dr. Dolby had been living with Alzheimer's Disease in recent
years, and was diagnosed in July of this year with acute leukemia.
Dr. Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965 and created an
environment where scientists and engineers continue to advance the science of
sight and sound to make entertainment and communications more engaging. Dr.
Dolby's pioneering work in noise reduction and surround sound led to the
development of many state-of-the-art technologies, for which he holds more than
50 U.S.
patents.
"Today we lost a friend, mentor and true
visionary," said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO, Dolby Laboratories.
"Ray Dolby founded the company based on a commitment to creating value
through innovation and an impassioned belief that if you invested in people and
gave them the tools for success they would create great things. Ray's ideals
will continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation for us all."
"My father was a thoughtful, patient and loving man,
determined to always do the right thing in business, philanthropy, and as a
husband and father," said David Dolby, son and member of Dolby
Laboratories' Board of Directors. "Our family is very proud of his
achievements and leadership. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy of
innovation will live on."
Early in Dr. Dolby's career, while attending high school on
the San Francisco Peninsula and then Stanford University,
he worked at Ampex Corporation and was the chief designer of all electronic
aspects of the first practical videotape recording system. Today, Dolby
Laboratories' technologies are an essential part of the creative process for
recording artists and filmmakers, who continue to use Dolby tools to bring
their visions to life.
"Though he was an engineer at heart, my father's
achievements in technology grew out of a love of music and the arts," said
Tom Dolby, son, filmmaker, and novelist. "He brought his appreciation of
the artistic process to all of his work in film and audio recording."
In the 48 years since Dr. Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories,
the company has transformed the entertainment experience from the cinema to the
living room to mobile entertainment. Tens of thousands of films and billions of
products and devices with Dolby technologies have made their way to theaters,
homes and consumers' hands around the world. The industry has awarded Dolby
Laboratories with 10 Academy Awards and 13 Emmy Awards for its groundbreaking
achievements throughout the years.Ray Dolby, a pioneer in the field of sound died Thursday in San Francisco.
