Jim Thiel, 61, Dies
By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 9/18/2009
Lexington, Ky. - Jim Thiel, co-founder and co-owner of Thiel Audio, succumbed to cancer, the company announced. He was 61.
Thiel, who was also the company's product design engineer, co-founded the company that bears his name in 1976 with current president Kathy Gornik. His speaker designs have won Innovations Design & Engineering awards, Absolute Sound / The Perfect Vision Editor's Choice awards, and Product of the Year awards from Stereophile, Electronic House, and Stereosound Magazines, the company's Web site said.
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Information on memorial services was unavailable. Donations in honor of Jim Thiel can be made to the Rosenberg Integrative Cancer Treatment and Research Institute. Dr. Mark Rosenberg of the institute treated Thiel's cancer.
"Jim felt strongly that Dr. Rosenberg's alternative approach to cancer treatment was viable and would like to encourage anyone challenged by the disease to learn more about Dr. Rosenberg's work at www.newhopeforcancer.org," the company said.
"Jim's passion for music and his interest in electronics can both be traced back to childhood, when he began a lifelong love affair with the piano and also began to build and repair radios and other electronic gear," the company said. "His academic background in physics and mathematics along with his naturally creative and inquisitive nature led him to pioneer the principle of time and phase accuracy in loudspeaker design."
The company also lauded Thiel's character. "When Thiel would host their dealers for training events in Lexington, many remarked that their favorite moments were spent with Jim in his lab, where he would detail his complex work in friendly and digestible language. Jim was known to listen thoughtfully and challenge gracefully, and he garnered a deep level of respect and affection from those who worked at his company. His employees remarked that he was so genuine — he was always fair, kind and reasonable. Jim was a man of science, possessing a profound respect for individuality and personal freedoms."
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This is another blow to TC speaker mastery after departure of John Dunlavy. Truly a sad day for world of audio. Jim will be greatly missed. Allow me to quote Jim’s email response to my question, not more then a few months ago :
Quote :
Thank you for your kind words. Your respect is appreciated. A CS7.3 is planned but time of availability is unknown.
Sincerely,
Jim Thiel
(end quote)
I doubt 7.3 will path its presence after Jim is gone, but I do wish all the best for Thiel’s future.
@Glenn Chapman
Your comment about Tom Thiel intrigues me. In early 90’s I remember his involvement with wood part of Thiel, little by little, never grasped the reason and date of his departure.
Anthony Albright - 2009-4-11 13:39:12 EST -
This is another blow to TC speakers after departure of John Dunlavy. Truly a sad day for world of audio. Jim will be greatly missed. Allow me to quote Jim’s email response to my question, no more then a few months ago :
Quote :
Thank you for your kind words. Your respect is appreciated. A CS7.3 is planned but time of availability is unknown.
Sincerely,
Jim Thiel
(end quote)
I doubt 7.3 will path its presence after Jim is gone, but I do wish all the best for Thiel’s future.
@Glenn Chapman
Your comment about Tom Thiel intrigues me. In early 90’s I remember his involvement with wood part of Thiel, little by little, never grasped the reason and date of his departure.
Anthony Albright - 2009-4-11 13:36:55 EST -
It would have been nice if Jim's brother Tom would have been mentioned in the article and as a founder. He was a company founder, after all. No doubt Kathy refused. Very sad that Jim is gone. With no one to design, how can the company survive ?
Glenn Chapman - 2009-24-9 08:58:14 EDT -
It is with a very sad heart that I read the news of Jim Thiel’s passing. I met Jim in the early 90's when he came to personally speak to the sales team where I was just a young salesman at the time. As someone fascinated with the science of sound, I was not only mesmerized with his theories but also the passion and gleam with which he spoke about them. At a time when I could have made choices to go in so many different directions, Jim Thiel greatly impacted my budding passion for this industry. He was a visionary and a great teacher. My condolences to everyone he touched.
Todd Goodnight - 2009-21-9 17:01:10 EDT -
Jim Thiel made a real difference to those who were priviledged to even briefly meet him let alone call him friend. His accomplishments were many and important but the way he lived his life was honorable benefit to us all.
Mike Lyons - 2009-20-9 21:14:33 EDT
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