Charles B Wang

Charles Wang, a founder of CA Technologies who poured his vast wealth into philanthropic pursuits on Long Island and around the world, and into efforts to keep the Islanders on Long Island, died Sunday October 21 2018. He was 74. Wang saw successes and setbacks in the fast-moving computer technology industry of the late 20th century and the financially fraught world of professional sports franchises in the early 21st century. He suffered the frustrations found in Long Island politics and gave back to society by donating millions to child health charities and higher education. Wang co-founded Computer Associates International, now known as CA Technologies, in 1976. he started the company with Queens College classmate Russell Artzt, Wang's skills helped propel CA to prominence with 20,000 employees at its peak. He purchased the Islanders in 2000. Wang was the majority owner of the Islanders until 2016, when he became a minority co-owner of the team that now plays half its games in Brooklyn's Barclays Center and half at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum. He moved to the United States with his family at the age of 8. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and graduated from Queens College with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics. He met fellow student Russell Artzt and the two young men forged Artzt's know-how and Wang's business and sales skills to create CA. Wang is survived by his wife Nancy Li; children, Kimberly, Jasmine and Cameron; his mother, Mary; brothers, Anthony of Lloyd Harbor and Francis, of Napa, California; and three grandchildren.