Charles Wang, a businessman and former majority owner of the NHL’s New York Islanders, died Sunday at the age of 74.
Born in Shanghai before moving to the United States with his family during his childhood, Wang was the founder of Computer Associates, a company now known as CA Technologies. He purchased the Islanders in 2000 along with Sanjay Kumar–whose stake Wang would buy out in 2004– and served as the team’s majority owner until 2016. In addition to the Islanders, Wang’s sports business background included ownership of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, which he bought in 2004.
At the time of his death, Wang a minority co-owner of both teams. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Islanders and the NHL. More from the AP:
“Charles Wang was a great man,” Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said in an online statement. “He always spoke of his love for the Long Island community and the passionate fan base. Long Island would not have a team if it were not for Charles.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement praising Wang for his efforts to expand hockey in China. Wang created Project Hope, an international program that took ice hockey to China.
“As the NHL embarks on a journey to grow hockey in China, we do so with the appreciation and knowledge that it was Charles who was the vision and driving force at the forefront of developing the game in his native country,” Bettman said.
Wang died in Oyster Bay, NY, with lung cancer being the cause of death, according to his attorney.
