AsianScientist (Jul. 15, 2013) – Former MIT faculty member and founder of the audio technology company Bose Corporation, Amar Bose, has died. He was 83.
Bose’s death was announced on Friday by the company’s president, Bob Maresca, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Bose began his acoustics research and was on the faculty for more than 40 years.
Dr. Bose received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from MIT, all in electrical engineering. He joined the faculty in 1956, where he started a research program in physical acoustics and psychoacoustics, and continued as a member of the MIT faculty until 2001.
“Amar Bose was an exceptional human being and an extraordinarily gifted leader,” MIT President L. Rafael Reif said. “He made quality mentoring and a joyful pursuit of excellence, ideas and possibilities the hallmark of his career in teaching, research and business. I learned from him, and was inspired by him, every single time I met with him. Over the years, I have seen the tremendous impact he has had on the lives of many students and fellow faculty at MIT. This proud MIT graduate, professor and innovator was a true giant who over decades enriched the Institute he loved with his energy, dedication, motivation and wisdom. I have never known anyone like him. I will miss him. MIT will miss him. The world will miss him.”
In 1964, Dr. Bose started Bose Corporation based on research he conducted at MIT. The company is well-known for its range of audio products such as its noise-canceling headphones. In 2011, Dr. Bose gave to MIT the majority of the stock of Bose Corporation in the form of nonvoting shares, to help sustain and advance MIT’s education and research mission.
“Dr. Bose founded Bose Corporation almost 50 years ago with a set of guiding principles centered on research and innovation. That focus has never changed, and never will,” said Bob Maresca, president of Bose Corporation. “Bose Corporation will remain privately held, and stay true to Dr. Bose’s ideals. We are as committed to this as he was to us. Today and every day going forward, our hearts are with Dr. Bose; and we will do everything we can to make him proud of the company he built.”
Vanu G. Bose, the son of Dr. Bose, recounted his experience as being a a teaching assistant for his father in his acoustics course (6.312).
“While my father is well known for his success as an inventor and businessman, he was first and foremost a teacher. I could not begin to count the number of people I’ve met who’ve told me that my father was the best professor they ever had and how taking 6.01 from him changed their life,” he said.
Dr. Bose was given many awards and honors during his lifetime. He was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar, an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Bose Corporation.
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