Ray Dolby, engineer and inventor of Dolby noise reduction, has died today of lukemia at the age of 80.

Dr. Dolby was the founder of Dolby Laboratories.  Over his career Dolby made many significant contribution to the fields of audio and video engineering, including video tape recording and the noise reduction and surround sound technologies that bear his name.  He and received many honors and awards and  held of over 50 US patents.

There obtuaries on the Dolby Laboratories,  Los Angeles Times and BBC Web sites, among others.

Here’s a video tribute to Ray Dolby.