William Warner Lang, 90, physicist, b. Boston, Aug 9, 1926; d. Oct 23, 2016.
The only son of William Warner and Lila Gertrude (Wheeler) Lang, Bill joined  
the Navy and served from 1944 to 1947.  He continued to serve in the Naval 
Reserve and was promoted to Captain in 1968.  He studied physics and received
BS and PhD degrees from Iowa State University and a MS from MIT.

In the summer of 1954, he met the love of his life, Asta Ingard, visiting her 
brother, Uno, from Sweden.  They were married 2 months later and spent nearly
50 happy years together.  After finishing his PhD in acoustics in 1958, Bill 
was recruited by IBM to build an acoustics laboratory in Poughkeepsie and 
develop a noise control program for the company.  In the early 1970's, Bill 
worked with Senate staff in Washington D.C. on details of what would become 
the Noise Control Act of 1972.  This initiative led to the formation of the 
Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE) in 1971 of which he was a 
founding member.  He was also a founder of the International Institute of 
Noise Control Engineering in 1974 and the INCE Foundation in 1993.

Bill was recognized for his contributions to noise control throughout his 
career with fellowships in the Audio Engineering Society, American Association 
for the Advancement of Science, Acoustical Society of America and the 
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.  He was a fellow, 
Distinguished Noise Control Engineer and a past president of INCE/USA as well 
as an honorary member of the Institute of Acoustics (UK) and the National 
Council of Acoustical Consultants.  He encouraged others to become engaged 
and was a mentor to many noise control engineers.

The achievement he was most proud of was his election to the National Academy 
of Engineering in 1978.  He was honored to represent IBM not just in the field 
of acoustics but all of engineering.  He realized that IBM could benefit from 
a similar institution to recognize it's best engineers and nurture 
collaboration.  He pushed his idea to create the IBM Academy of Technology 
which today boasts more than 800 members from 40 countries.

Bill dedicated his career to influencing U.S. and global noise policies through 
annual INCE-sponsored international congresses now in their 44th year.  His
work continues today through the NAE Technology for a Quieter America initiative.

Bill was an active member of the community.  In his 'free' time, he counseled 
students as a member of the MIT Educational Council, started a Toastmasters Club 
which he attended every week, was an Adjunct Professor of Physics at Vassar 
College, a member and President of the Poughkeepsie/Arlington Rotary Club and 
a devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir.

Bill loved life and challenged himself mentally and physically everyday.  He 
skied until he was 87, went to the gym and walked every morning.  Always 
cheerful and positive, he loved his family, friends and animals, big and small.

He is survived by his son Robert, daughter in-law Bogumila, and 2 grandsons 
Lucjan Olaf and Colin.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, Nov 19, at Christ 
Episcopal Church.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ 
Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.