The creative process in his designs, the study of technologies and applications is, in the best sense, an endless and fascinating journey that always brings change, new challenges and fresh thoughts. No one can ask more of life than to have been able to continue in those pursuits with the love, respect and support of a great family and to be able to enjoy and share those achievements with family, friends and a world community. Dr. West worked, creating and sharing the results he has pioneered in the field of his choice, until literally his last moment in this world.

With careful preparations planned over the recent years, Roger leaves the reigns of what he always described as an audio research company that also happens to make and retail the occasional electrostatic speaker  (the story line for his company Sound Lab Inc. for 48 years), to his son Brett who himself has been the key craftsman and product manager for over 20 years bringing all of Roger’s designs to life to be enjoyed all around the world. With Brett and Connie (Roger’s steadfast wife) as the backbone to the office and operation, Sound Lab will continue to build on Dr. West’s legacy as an intimate family-owned enterprise dedicated to the manufacture of excellence for electrostatic application for audio speakers.

Roger was born May 21, 1934 to Perry Edward West and Virginia May Nelson in Evanston, Wyoming.

He spent most of his early childhood in Ogden, UT and later moved to San Franciso and Menlo Park, California.

He graduated from Menlo Park-Atherton High School, San Jose State with his B. S., Santa Clara University with his Masters degree and lastly, Stanford University with his PhD in Psycho-Acoustics. He also did post-doctoral work there.

He worked in the aero-space industry between his educational pursuits and after graduation he started with Janszen Electronics. This led him to start his own company, Sound Lab, since he had many ideas for improvement in electrostatic sound technology. He started Sound Lab with a longtime friend, Dale Ream, M.D. He has been running his company and continually working and designing until the day of his death.

About 44 years ago, he was hit in the eye with a racquet ball which commenced in the deterioration of his hearing which eventually led to total deafness about 2 ½ years ago. Despite this handicap, he has continually worked and designed speakers and it was often said that he was the “Beethoven” of sound reproduction.

He was baptized in the LDS church, but did not become active until his mid-twenties and from that moment he was ever dedicated to a life-long pursuit of truth. He has a large and wonderful family that he loved dearly. He was highly respected in his field, religious circles and by all those who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Charleen Frey, and his children, and by many grandchildren and great grandchildren.