Norman C. Pickering
Norman Charles Pickering, an inventor, musician, musical instrument maker, and acoustical researcher, died at home in East Hampton on Nov. 18. He was 99.
Mr. Pickering invented the Pickering phonograph cartridge. In November 1945, he founded Pickering and Company, which produced phonograph pickups and related equipment. His work in recording led to associations with Les Paul, Capitol Records, George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra, and many other musicians. He also was a founder of the Audio Engineering Society and its first secretary.
A violinist, Mr. Pickering was a past president of the Violin Society of America and, after 1980, devoted himself to the study of the acoustics of violins and their bows, serving as a consultant to a firm that manufactured their strings. In 1970, he became technical director of a laboratory at Southampton Hospital, which developed high-resolution ultrasonic imaging. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the Newark College of Engineering, now the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Mr. Pickering was well known in the local music community, having helped initiate Pianofest in 1989, which brings talented young pianists to the East End to study and perform. He remained a Pianofest board member, creative consultant, and adviser until his death.
He was born in Brooklyn on July 9, 1916, and did graduate work at the Juilliard School, in addition to graduating from the Newark College of Engineering. He joined the newly formed Indianapolis Symphony in 1937 and remained with it three seasons, teaching at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Mich., during the summer.
In early 1940 Mr. Pickering was asked to join a research group at C.G. Conn in Elkhart, Ind., where the development of wind instruments involved the highest quality sound recording available at the time. The work was interrupted by Pearl Harbor, and the plant was converted to making aircraft instruments for the Sperry Gyroscope Company. He then joined the Sperry Research Laboratory in Garden City and spent the war years there.
Following a hostile takeover of the Pickering Company, Mr. Pickering turned to aviation, making use of his wartime experience and becoming vice president and technical director of Avien Inc. and later of Robintech. He continued to play professionally as a freelancer.
Mr. Pickering is survived by his wife of 36 years, Barbara Goldowsky of East Hampton. Also surviving are four children from two previous marriages and two of Ms. Goldowsky’s sons. They are Judith Crow of Winston-Salem, N.C., David Pickering of Queen Creek, Ariz., Frederick Pickering of Sag Harbor, Rolf Pickering of Evergreen, Colo., and Alexander Goldowsky and Boris Goldowsky, both of Boston.
Mr. Pickering was cremated. A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced. Donations in his memory have been suggested to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978, or to the East Hampton Library, 159 Main Street, East Hampton 11937.