The late Charles Wang owned the Islanders during some of the most difficult times this historic franchise has been through and was a victim of a passionate fanbase.

The Islanders never had the largest fanbase. Nevertheless, as is the case with many franchises, it’s extremely passionate. Sometimes, that passion leads fans to say things that may be overly drastic and uncalled for. Unfortunately, many fans didn’t realize how much he did to, not just to keep this franchise in New York, but alive.

Charles Wang was born in Shanghai, China, in August 1944. He came to New York when he was eight and earned a bachelors degree in mathematics and physics from Queens College. He founded Computer Associates International, which provided internet security software to private computers.

Wang bought the Islanders in 2000, just years after the infamous John Spano nearly ran the team into the ground. The team’s lack of success also led to rumors that the team was on the move.

Wang raised the payroll, after previous owners misused it. But general manager Mike Milbury made a number of ill-advised moves with this newly gained power, most notably trading Roberto Luongo with the intention of drafting Rick DiPietro.  Still, the team made the playoffs in 2002, losing to Toronto in seven games.

Quickly afterwards, the team once again struggled. They made personel changes during the 2005-2006 season, firing head coach Steve Stirling. Mike Milbury also resigned. Garth Snow became GM afterwards and one of his first moves was signing Rick DiPietro to a 15-year deal, something Wang supported. “This is not a big deal,” Wang said at the time. “You have to have a commitment to who you’re working with.”

The team made the playoffs in 2007. But that summer was one of change for the club. On the ice, management announced that they bought out Alexi Yashin’s contract. Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov, and Richard Zednik also left via free agency. Off the ice however, Wang realized that the Islanders needed a new arena. The Nassau Coliseum was in disarray, and the team was eight years away from the end of its lease in the building. In the summer of 2007, Wang introduced the people of Long Island to the Lighthouse Project.

The Lighthouse Project likely brings back nightmares for most Islanders fans. Years of questions and lack of progress would lead to its downfall. But it wasn’t all Wang’s fault.

The Lighthouse Project originally costed $200 million.  It would obviously include a new stadium, but other features included houses, offices, restaurants, a five-star hotel, an athletic complex and a minor league baseball park. This plan became increasingly unfeasible so it was downgraded slightly, but still stressed the renovation of the Nassau Coliseum.

The plan was every Islanders fan’s dream. Their arena had become one of the oldest in the NHL and the hope was a new arena would literally revive the franchise. Still, the plan never seemed to take off, and as a result, fans were becoming frustrated with ownership, particularly Wang.

The true culprits in the Coliseum fiasco, however, were the politicians of the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County.  By 2009, Wang was beginning to get upset at the slow pace of project. He even considered moving the team to Kansas City or Queens at one point if the Town of Hempstead continued to refuse to postpone the project.

Then in 2010, then-Supervisor Kate Murray created an “alternative zone” for the Nassau Coliseum property.  This significantly downsized the area of the property and made the Lighthouse Project impossible.

In 2011, when Isles were likely on their way to one of Queens, Brooklyn, or Kansas City, Wang still held one more vote to determine if the people of Long Island would finance the project through tax dollars. Sadly for the Isles, the motion failed as only 30% of residents were in favor of subsidizing the arena.

In 2012, Wang announced that the New York Islanders would move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2015-2016 season. It was an announcement he was likely relived to make considering the effort he put in the previous few years. He tried so hard to keep the team on Long Island, and in a sense he succeeded. He managed to keep the team away from Kansas City and Quebec.  Even though the team would move to Brooklyn, they were still in New York. The man saved the franchise, and Islanders fans owe him a debt of gratitude for that.

Wang sold the team to Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin in August 2014, the summer before the Islanders’ final season at the old Coliseum. They too would lead the Isles through some hard times in Brooklyn, but under Wang’s guidance (at least while he was still a minority owner), they stayed course and eventually managed to build a deal that will hopefully move the team to Belmont Park in a few short years. The best part of that deal is that the team will also play games in Nassau Coliseum as the Belmont arena is being built, something Wang would probably have loved to see come true.

During his time as owner, Wang received much criticism and, sadly, some hate as well for lack of progress and inability to keep the team in the Coliseum. Looking back now, after the team had incredible final season in Nassau, a second round appearance in Brooklyn and a new and bright future ahead of us, I think I speak for many Islanders fans when I say that we owe Mr. Wang an apology, and should thank him for all he did for our team.

Wang was a man of character, loyalty, and dedication. He showed it in his pursuit of a new life in the United States, his interactions with the people he worked with, and his commitment to the New York Islanders franchise, including its players, employees, charities, and fans. He pulled this team out of darkness and did his absolute best to put it back on a path to success and prosperity. May he always be remembered as such as this team begins a transition that he helped make possible.

Ben Baruch

Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.