Steve Jobs, the former CEO and Co-founder of the multinational corporation Apple, has died at the age of 56.
Jobs was known as the creative drive and technological mind behind most Apple products such as the world’s first personal computer, the Apple II, iTunes and the iPhone.
When announcing his death to the public, Apple did not disclose any specific cause of death. However, Jobs had been struggling with pancreatic cancer for eight years. In August, he resigned from his position as CEO of the company because of health conditions.
Apple released a statement on his passing:
“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.”
Apple has created a remembrance of Jobs on the homepage of their website this evening, http://www.apple.com/. The page consists of a headshot of Jobs along with text reading, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011.”
Jobs’ was first diagnosed with cancer in 2003. He had received treatment for a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. After informing Apple employees and the public of his condition in 2004, the cancer subsided. However in 2009, Jobs traveled to a hospital in Memphis to secretly receive a liver transplant that was allegedly demanded by medical experts.
“I didn’t expect the death of Steve Jobs at all,” says Melanie Hall, a Bloomsburg University sophomore.. “It was shocking to see all the statuses on Facebook come up at once and just kind of ironic because Apple just released the new iPhone.”
Jobs’ family released this statement:
“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.”
Back in 2005, Jobs revealed some of his thoughts on death in a heartfelt commencement address at Stanford University, telling students: “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”
