Reactions to the Death of Steve Jobs

Apple founder Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, died at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jobs first announced to his employees that he’d been diagnosed with a tumor in his pancreas in 2004, and planned to remove the tumor the same year. In a message to his employees at the time, he explained:
“I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was). I will not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.”
The homepage of Apple’s website switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011.”
Clicking on the image revealed additional text by current Apple CEO, Tim Cook, which said, “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.”
The site makes it possible to “share your thoughts, memories, and condolences,” by simply sending an email to rememberingsteve@apple.com
Apple’s Board of Directors released a statement, from Business Wire, saying, “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 Powell Jobs, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”
Bill Gates, the former chief executive of Microsoft, said in a statement that he was, truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. He added, “The world rarely sees someone who 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.”
Ned Potter, Colleen Curry and Michael S. James, ABC News, reported that, “Reaction to Jobs’ death came far and wide — even from the White House.”
President Obama said in a written statement, “Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. 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.”
Jobs’ family released a statement thanking everyone who had shown concern.
“In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family,” the statement said. “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.”
Potter, Curry, and James reported that Jobs was “A prodigy who dropped out of Reed College in Oregon and, at 21, started Apple with his childhood friend, Stephen Gary Wozniak in his parents’ garage. He was a multimillionaire by 25, appeared on the cover of Time magazine at 26, and was ousted at Apple at age 30, in 1984.”
“I’m shocked and disturbed,” said Wozniak when reached by ABC News.
“We’ve lost something we won’t get back,” said Wozniak in a phone interview with the Associated Press (AP). “The way I see it, though, the way people love products he put so much into creating means he brought a lot of life to the world.”
Rachel Metz, The Associated Press, reported that, “Wozniak wiped away tears in a separate AP video interview.”
Junior Jared Broom said that Jobs left, “A huge legacy on the technological world.”
“It is always sad anytime someone dies,” said Matthew Murrey, Urbana High School Librarian. “Steve Jobs was a pretty pivotal figure, and will surely be missed.”
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do,” Jobs told Stanford grads in 2005.
“Jobs always spoke with immense pride about what he and his engineers accomplished at Apple,” reported Brandon Griggs, CNN.
“If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking,” Jobs added. “Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.”