Gornik: Thiel To Persevere Despite Loss

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 10/7/2009

Lexington, Ky. - Thiel Audio will persevere despite the death of co-founder and product design engineer Jim Thiel, said president Kathy Gornik.

The company has "enlisted a team of talented engineers who have been charged with applying Jim Thiel's advanced driver, crossover and cabinet designs to future products, several of which are already in the pipeline," she said. Jim Thiel "carefully documented all of his research and design parameters, giving us three decades of legendary achievements from which to base the company's bright future." New products are slated for 2010.

"Rest assured, Thiel will continue to forge full steam ahead," she said.

Jim Thiel passed away last month after succumbing to cancer. He co-founded the company that bears his name in 1976 with current president Kathy Gornik. His speaker designs 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.

"While this is undeniably a very sad time for us at Thiel, having lost not only one of the best audio engineers in the world but also a great man who was so very dear to us, we recognize how fortunate we are that he left us such a rich legacy," Gornik said. "Jim was our polestar - always insisting on the highest of standards in virtually every aspect of our endeavors."