PASADENA, CA — Pro audio veteran, Macintosh computer expert, audio historian, educator, gifted violinist, author and avid photographer Garry Margolis passed away on December 6, 2022, following a serious bout with Covid-19. He was 81.
Garry was particularly well-known in the professional audio community having spent decades of his life working with the Audio Engineering Society, where over the years, he served as Section Officer, Governor, Treasurer and President. In 2012, Margolis was presented with the coveted AES Fellowship Award; seven years later, in 2019, he was recognized with the AES Distinguished Service Medal Award.
A lifelong resident of sunny Southern California, Margolis was born on June 5, 1941, Margolis attended Fairfax High School, in Los Angeles, followed by studies at UCLA.
After college, he embarked on a remarkable career in the audio and electronics industry. He was hired by JBL in 1974 as an Applications Engineer for Pro Products, and later rose to Sales Manager, Pro Products for the International Group. He left JBL in 1981 to become Director of Sales for UREI. In 1983, when UREI was acquired by Harman, Margolis returned to JBL International, where he was later named as Vice President, Marketing for pro products, a position he held until 1990, when he left to establish his own consulting firm.
Through his career, Margolis was closely associated with the AES both with the Los Angeles Section as well as in national posts, serving on various committees, where he applied his expertise in fields such as audio for cinema, acoustics, psychoacoustics, hearing and architectural acoustics, as well as and eight year stint (1995-2003) as a Technology Laison Director on technical and marketing issues regarding the launch of both DVD-Video and Super Audio CD for Philips Electronics.
In 1990, he moved away from the corporate fast lane, using his expertise in the founding of his own company, providing Macintosh computer consulting. Along the line, he continued his formal association with pro audio, becoming the North American Marketing Director of Netherlands-based integrator / acoustics consultants Acoustic Control Systems.
But throughout it all, Margolis had a love for education and sharing his experiences and knowledge to benefit others. Besides his AES activities, he taught digital photography at Pasadena City College; co-led photography classes and L.A. Metro photo safaris, was a ham radio operator who volunteered doing auxiliary communications work for the Los Angeles Fire Department, and was instrumental in the creation of the beloved and well-used Lansing Heritage website (www.audioheritage.org) — a portal focused on preserving audio history, particularly that of Altec-Lansing and JBL products.
With his friendly nature, fun sense of humor and eagerness to help people getting started in the industry, Garry Margolis will long be remembered by his many friends, colleagues and former students and will be missed by all. Farewell, old friend and rest well.
NOTE: A Celebration of the Life of Gary Margolis is planned for 10am, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 at the Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, 6001 West Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045. To RSVP, contact: [email protected].
