An Wang was born in Shanghai, China on February 7, 1920 and came to the U.S. in 1945. He received his B.S. degree from Chiao Tung University in Shanghai in 1940 and his Ph.D. in applied physics from Harvard University in 1948. He did post-doctoral work, upon graduation, at the Harvard computation Laboratory. He founded Wang Laboratories in 1951 to develop specialty electronic devices. At his death, he was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Wang Laboratories, Inc.

Dr. Wang has made many notable contributions to the advancement of computer technology, including the magnetic pulse controlling device, the principle upon which magnetic core memory is based. He held over 35 patents relating to computer technology.

In 1965, Dr. Wang introduced a desktop computer named LOCI. This forerunner of the Wang electronic desk calculators used a keyboard resembling that of an adding machine, but offered the user the unique feature of generating logarithms with a single keystroke. Every year since the production of the first LOCI, Dr. Wang and his staff of engineers conceived and designed electronic instruments and systems, maintaining a steady progression of innovations in the office automation and information processing field.

He was awarded the American Electronics Association's 1984 Medal of Achievement. Presented annually by the AEA, the medal is the highest award conferred by the electronics and information technology industries.

Dr. Wang was once a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Boston and the Massachusetts Board of Regents. At the time of his death, he was president and trustee of the Wang Institute of Graduate Studies and was a trustee of Northeastern University and the Museum of Science in Boston. He was elected an overseer of Harvard University in 1980.

Dr. Wang died March 24, 1990 in Boston.

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