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William C. Shaw, one of the founders of IMAX Corporation, died on
Saturday, August 31 at age 73. Shaw died in a Toronto hospital after
suffering complications from a heart attack.
Shaw joined Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr in 1968 to
design and develop the IMAX projection system. The engineer
responsible for the development of the original system, Shaw also led
the engineering team which subsequently developed IMAX Dome (OMNIMAX
(R)), IMAX 3D, IMAX Solido(R), IMAX Magic Carpet(R) and IMAX HD.
Shaw had a number of patents to his credit relating to the
development of the rolling loop mechanism fundamental to the
IMAX system as well as to subsequent developments for IMAX
projectors, cameras and peripherals.
IMAX Co-CEOs Rich Gelfond and Brad Wechsler said, "We will miss
Bill's intellect, good humor and friendship. We were always grateful
for the key role he played in every aspect of the life of the
Company, from the invention of the technology that started an entire
industry, through to our acquisition of IMAX."
In 1985, Shaw won the Society of Motion Picture and Television
Engineers' John Grierson Medal. In 1986, on behalf of IMAX, he
accepted a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and in 1997 he attended the
ceremonies in Los Angeles as IMAX accepted its Oscar(R) statuette for
Scientific and Technical Achievements. In 1988, he was honoured
with a Gold Medal from the Association of Professional Engineers of
Ontario (APEO). In 1998, Shaw was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci
Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Shaw is survived by his wife Barbra, daughter Cami Kucera, son Scott
Shaw, grandson Daniel Kucera, brother John Shaw and sisters Isabel
Pullen and Marjorie Shaw.
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