Former Apple CEO and Chairman Steve Jobs has died at age 56. Apple’s main web page has become an understated memorial to its visionary leader, who has widely been credited with having created the personal computer industry during his first years at Apple, then reshaping the music, telephone, and computer industries in his second stretch.
Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Jobs’ family, and all the employees of Apple who—like us—are already feeling the pain of his loss.
The impact of his life cannot be overstated.
“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,” reads a passage posted to the company’s website.
In a separate statement published by the Wall Street Journal, Jobs’ family said he “died peacefully today surrounded by his family…We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”
Jobs, along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, founded Apple Computer in 1976, and oversaw the development of both the Apple II and Macintosh computers before leaving the company in 1985. While away from Apple, Jobs started his own computer company—NeXT Computer—which would later be purchased by Apple—and purchased The Graphics Group from Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division in 1986. The Graphics Group would later be renamed Pixar, and would go on to produce a string of award-winning computer-animated feature films. Pixar was acquired by Disney in 2006, making Jobs the largest single shareholder in The Walt Disney Company.
