Steve Jobs, 1955-2011
The world mourns the passing of a technical pioneer, a man who did so much for the technological advances of our generation, yet was tragically cut down by that most pernicious of human weaknesses: cancer.
Steve Jobs had a very interesting life before he formed Apple Computer, Inc. in 1976; two years before, he made a spiritual journey to India and became a Buddhist, further cementing his peace-loving ways. Then, with his friend Steve Wozniak as well as Ronald Wayne, a fellow entrepreneur, he founded one of the largest and most prolific computer companies to come out of the late 20th century.
Jobs had an aggressive vision for the future, and he saw it through even to the final days of his tenure as chief executive of his company. In 2004, he announced that he had pancreatic cancer, and took steps to cure it, first with a homeopathic remedy (a special diet in this case), then with an operation that supposedly removed the tumor.
But the cancer returned, and In August of this year, Jobs announced that he was resigning the post, stating that he no longer felt he was able to fulfill the responsibilities that came with such a high calling.
On Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at only 56 years old, Steve Jobs left this world, to be sure a much more prosperous one than when he had entered. He’s survived by his wife, Laurene, his three children from their marriage, and another child from a previous one.
It would be quite impossible to list here all the accomplishments that Steve Jobs has done, nor the impact they’ve had on society, but we know his creative vision through his devices: the Mac, the iPhone, the iPod, the iPad. He oversaw the crafting of these miniature computers that we use every day, and a dozen or more types in his lifetime, and their positive impact on technology and the lives of consumers cannot be denied. We look to the future of Apple products with hope, knowing his legacy will be carried on by Apple for years to come.