Steven P. Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends after a 6 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was only 56.
Apple announced Jobs passing with a statement that read, “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”
Job’s was a hailed as a genius and visionary throughout his life. He co-founded Apple with his high school friend Stephen Wozniak in 1976 and introduced the personal computer, the Macintosh, in 1984.
Jobs helped to spark a technological revolution in the new millennium leaving us with products such as the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Macbook Pro computers.
Among his laundry list of achievements Jobs purchased Pixar as a floundering company and helped to revive it with “Toy Story,” the first all computer generated animation film, leaving Jobs as an inspiration to film makers and entrepreneurs every where.
Jobs ingenuity and hands on approach is what made him so unique as a business leader and are qualities that are sure to be missed by Apple employees while developing new products.
Jobs stepped down from his position as CEO of Apple in August due to his battle with cancer, “I have always said that if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s C.E.O., I would be the first to let you know,” Jobs said in a letter released by the company. “Unfortunately, that day has come.” In a controversial decision Jobs appointed Timothy D. Cook as the new leader of the esteemed company.
Many American’s were stunned by his sudden passing and in a statement released by the White House on Thursday, President Obama stated “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”
President Obama continues on to praise Jobs for the way he helped to technologically revolutionize the world, “Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.”
In his short life Jobs is said to have accumulated an estimated $8.3 billion dollars, that will be split between his wife, son, and two daughters.
Watch Steve Jobs address the graduates of Stanford University with a motivational commencement speech
