Irv Teibel

Irv was born in Buffalo, New York and attended The Rochester Institute of Technology, Cooper Union and The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He taught at the New School in New York City. He served in the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Cold War. After honorable discharge from the Army, Irv moved to London where he worked in the publishing field for a few years. Irv returned to the States, lived in Manhattan and worked as a writer and photographer for several magazines, including Look and Car & Driver. Irv liked motorcycles, fast cars, and old Cadillacs that he would customize.

Irv made his mark when he started the Environments (TM) series in 1969. It quickly became a world-wide phenomenon as people realized the incredible effects of nature recordings that could be used to eliminate distracting noises and aid concentration. Environments (TM) was the first publicly available psychoacoustic recording series. His company, Syntonic Research, Inc., was the first corporation to use the concept of acoustic noise masking via recorded sound, utilizing the myriad subtle sounds of nature.

Irv made a total of 15 different recordings in the Environments (TM) series. Popular titles in the series included Slow Ocean, Ultimate Thunderstorm, Wood Masted Sailboat, English Meadow, Wind in the Trees, and Gentle Rain in a Pine Forest.

Irv was an avid New Yorker and lived there for many years. At the height of his career, he maintained an office at the top of the Flatiron Building. Those who knew him in his New York days remember his interesting restaurant finds and high tech video and audio equipment.

Irv moved to Austin, Texas with his then wife Rosanne in 1981. Together they started a family. Their two daughters, Jennifer and Dara were born in 1981 and 1985. Irv lived in Austin for 29 years and made many friends. He was very active in the Jewish community and enjoyed attending and photographing events at all of the synagogues in town.

Irv was a talented photographer, writer, graphic designer and entrepreneur. Irv was such a devoted photographer that others rarely saw him without a camera. He loved to take photos, retouch them on his computer and share them with everyone that he knew.

Irv had a fondness for children and animals. He loved to watch children play and he enjoyed interacting with them. Irv had a Scottish terrier named Farfel that he raised from a puppy. Farfel was his faithful companion and stayed by his side for 14 years.

Irv had a vibrant personality, was quite eccentric and held strong opinions. In his later years, through his extensive email list, he shared jokes, pictures and articles with many friends and acquaintances. Irv had an active sense of humor and took considerable joy in sharing a good joke until the very end.

Irv will live on through our memories and through his recordings.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer and Dara, twin granddaughters, Rebecca and Julia, and his close friend Linda Lloyd.