My Hero Has Died!

Apple: Steve Jobs Has Died

By Doug Aamoth on
October 5, 2011

A statement from Jobs’ family reads, in full:

“Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his
family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a
visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the
many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of
Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes
and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness
of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with
us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”

Jobs has been instrumental in many of Apple’s
hit products, stretching back to 1976 with the Apple I and all the way to
the modern-day iPhone and iPad. He revealed to Apple employees in 2004 that he’d
been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent at least one liver
transplant in 2009.

(PHOTOS: Steve Jobs:
An Extraordinary Career)

Apple has reportedly released a statement saying
that Jobs has died of pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 20 years,
Laurene, and their three children. Jobs also has a fourth child from a past
relationship named Lisa, after whom he named Apple’s “Lisa”
computer in 1983.

Apple’s board of directors has issued the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve
Jobs passed away today.

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.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene,
and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his
extraordinary gifts.”

Another statement on Apple’s website at apple.com/stevejobs reads:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative
genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of use who have
been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an
inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built,
and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

If you would like to share your thoughts,
memories and condolences, please e-mail rememberingsteve@apple.com”

Over on TIME.com’s business section, Jobs’
obituary reads, in part:

“Steve Jobs, whose death was announced on
Wednesday night, wasn’t a computer scientist, He had no training as a hardware
engineer or an industrial designer. The businesses that Apple entered under his
leadership — from personal computers to MP3 players to smartphones — all existed
before the company got there.

But with astonishing regularity, Jobs did
something that few people accomplish even once: he reinvented entire industries.
He did it with ones that were new, like PCs, and he did it with ones that were
old, such as music. And his pace only accelerated over the years.”

Click
here to read the rest of the obituary.

New Apple CEO Tim Cook has issued the following statement:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative
genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been
fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an
inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built,
and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s
extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would
like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can
simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at
Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will
honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so
much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife
Laurene and his children during this difficult time.”

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has issued the following statement:

“I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’
death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends,
and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and
have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half
our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the
profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many
generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work
with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

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