Martin Sonn, a psychoacoustician on the staff of Raytheon Submarine Signal Division, Associate Editor of the Jorrrnal o f the Acortstical Society o/ America, and research associate in the Boston University School of Medicine, died unexpectedly in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 17, 1974. Born in New York City, he received the BSEE degree from the University of Hartford in 1962; the MS degree i n general/theoretical psychology from the University of Bridgeport in 1964; the P h D degree in experimental psychology from the Graduate School, Brantridge Forest, Sussex, in 1966; and the EdD degree in audiology from Boston University in 1972. At Raytheon his research dealt with auditory and visual signal detection theory, human decision-making quantification and electronic and acoustic signal processing. While on sabbatical leave at Boston University he conducted research on fabrication of a multimicroelectrode array for cochlear implant as a treatment for sensorineural deafness (1972) . H e was cited for his work in this area by the American Institute for Physics in 1972. He was a fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences, an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and a member of the Acoustical Society of America, IEEE, and Psi Chi Honorary Society in Psychology. As a member of the American National Standards Institute Working Group for Revision of Acoustical Terminology, S1.l, he authored the recently accepted ANSI revised standard ( 1 7 7 3 ) , also published separately as Psychoacoustical Terminology (1969) . Marty began his professional career as an electronics engineer, then pursued psychophysics. H e entered the defense industry and, through sonar, developed interests in both applied decision making and auditory function. His last major project, involving inner ear implant research, started as a n effort to apply defense-oriented technology to medical problems. Throughout the program he was subject to the conflicting pressures of severely limited funds, the conservatism ethically essential to transplant research, and the human need for auditory protheses. Several prototype devices were produced, passive implant scudies in animals conducted, but the active implant and prosthetic scudies in animals were pending when he died. Marty was a psychologist equipped, as few are, with the talent and training to explore in depth both aspects of the psychophysical question. His approach to the scientific endeavor was marked by innovation, synthesis and an unrelenting energy spurred by his favorite complaint of not enough time. Now he leaves a legacy of original work and the feeling that the tragedy of an untimely death has stilled the development of a young man destined to become a giant.
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Jan 1, 1999
William Buskist + 1
Open Access