Jim Thiel Passes Away

I really really liked Jim Thiel. He was the perfect complement to business partner Kathy Gornik. She is the bubbly one but I like to think that I played a small part in turning Jim into a hugger. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have known him.

James I will sincerely miss you. You truly redefined loudspeaker design.

James Tanner
Bryston

Jim was not only a legendary speaker designer, but a very nice man to know and be around. Both those who have known Jim personally and those who have known him through his work will miss him.

This is terrible. I have fond memories of demoing Thiel loudspeakers. I spoke to Jim at length and he took the time to talk to me when he really didn’t have to. RIP Jim.

The 1988 Summer CES Show in Chicago was my initiation to the consumer electronics industry (I just started with ADA in late January).  We had a series of suites on an upper floor in the McCormick Hotel and Thiel was our extremely friendly neighbor.  It was there that I first met Jim.  I can still remember how he took the time to walk a complete newbie through what a superior quality speaker is all about.  We returned the following year to the same floor and room with thankfully, the same wonderful neighbors in Kathy and Jim.  Jim always chuckled at our white lab coats that got awfully warm to wear as the afternoon sun beat on the floor to ceiling windows.  Those were wonderful shows and form the backdrop of my “good old days”.  It has been a sad year.  My regrets go out to the entire Thiel family.

Richard Stoerger
Audio Design Associates

I have not had the pleasure to meet Jim in person but from many readings about him I grew to admire his approach and achievements.

Very sad news to the entire industry for losing such an Icon.

My condolences to the family and the family of Thiel Audio.

I sold Thiel speakers while I was working for another dealer from 1985-1988. Along side the Thiel’s, we also sold Duntech, B&W;, Dalhquist, and PSB. Even though some of the other brands were 3 times the price and 3 times the physical size, my favorite speaker in the entire store was the infamous Thiel 3.5.

The speaker was so good, I personally called Thiel to let them know how much I loved the product. When I called, I was immediately patched through to Kathy Gornik and we spoke for over an hour. After that 1st call, from time to time Kathy & I would call each other to see how things were going and she always asked what Thiel could be doing better.

When I decided to open my own business in 1989, I begged Kathy for the line but it couldn’t be done due to the dealer distribution structure that Thiel already had in place. I believe at the time there were only 52 Thiel dealers in the entire country.

However, Kathy & Jim invited me down to visit the factory simply out of friendship. I still remember Kathy and Jim picking me up at the airport, and Jim driving us in his Volvo at an average speed of 90mph to the Nandino Blvd. factory.

Even though I was not a dealer at the time, Kathy & Jim spent the entire day with me showing me every manufacturing room and proprietary tools and computer programs they had designed. During these 8 hours, neither Kathy or Jim left me for one second and would not even let us be interrupted by phone calls. Needless to say, their operation was absolutely mind blowing and Jim was like a little kid showing me all of his incredible toys.

Towards the end of the day, Kathy & Jim assembled all of their employees into one room for me to speak to them. They wanted my impressions of what I just saw and how to improve it. To this day, I still can’t believe they wanted an opinion from a nobody like me to comment on an operation that was so perfect, and so far ahead of its time.

The thing that amazed me was that Kathy and Jim were so humble, they really had no idea how well respected and sought after the brand was. Even after all of the accolades and awards they received from Absolute Sound, Stereophile, and dealers, they still never let it go to their heads. The word “ego” was in neither one of their vocabularies. In a high end industry where the manufacturers and people who sold high end products were such snobs in those days, (not that it doesn’t still exist today), this was not only rare, it goes to prove that this dynamic duo is still and will always be one of a kind.

Summing up, every post, every article, every blog, etc., anyone will ever read will all have one thing in common… We all recognize Jim Thiel as a true gentleman. I firmly believe that Jim’s devotion to his craft was never motivated by financial success or personal stature. Jim was, and always will be the “real deal.” He was simply driven by his passion to let other people enjoy music the way he heard it and enjoyed it.

There is no question that he will be sorely missed. Let it be known that this entire industry just went down a notch upon his passing.

To Kathy, you are in all of our prayers. If Jim had to go, at least we know you will continue Thiel’s never ending passion to deliver the finest product and best customer service in this business.

God speed Jim. Your legacy will live on well after we all too leave this tiny place call Earth.

Sincerely and with deepest sympathies,
Dave

I recall being a young-ish sales person at a high end dealer in Seattle. We were a Thiel dealer. I remember when he would visit the store, and how kind and coniderate he was, with all of the staff & shop owners.
A very classy gentleman, and I am very sorry to hear of his demise.