RIP: Steve Jobs

© Apple

Hello There!

As to many of you (including myself) are shocked and disturbed of disbelief of hearing the news of the passing of the Co-founder of Apple, Inc. Steve Jobs.

At first I thought it was a joke as its hard to believe what's really truth unless confirmed by the media outlets new corps like ABC News, CNN, etc... Social Media outlets like Twitter was showing a lot of people reacting to the lost of Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs recently resigned is position of CEO of Apple as of August 24, 2011 this year and as the successor Tony Cook to reign as the new CEO of Apple. Steve Jobs left the company on medical leave 3 times during the last few years due to health problems he was having.

In 2004, he beat back an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to get a liver transplant. After several years of failing health, Jobs announced on Aug. 24, 2011 that he was stepping down as Apple's chief executive.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

On Jobs’ passing, Bob Iger said in a statement, “Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an “original,” with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.”

John Lasster and Ed Catmull together also issued a statement: “Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.”

The following should be attributed to AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson:

"We are saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was an iconic inventor, visionary, and entrepreneur, and we had the privilege to know him as partner and friend. All of us at AT&T offer our thoughts and prayers to Steve's wife, family, and his Apple family."

Marking a time and place in history, in a recent update to Epcot’s iconic Spaceship Earth ride, Disney even added a garage scene in which a bearded, long-haired young man is slumped over an early prototype of the world’s first personal computer. While not specifically named as Jobs, it’s clear that this scene represents an important moment in technological history that Jobs was a major part of.

Steve Jobs not only offered financial and business support to Disney and Pixar but also creative leadership, direction, and inspiration, much as had did for Apple for many years. And though he will no longer personally be around to oversee it all, his influence and inspiration will still be felt by many. An outpouring of support on social networks shows that many felt strongly for and were affected by the man, even without knowing him personally. And in the world of theme parks, Jobs’ influence will continue.

Walt Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt wrote on his personal Twitter account about Jobs’ influence on the Spaceship Earth scene, “He inspired those who worked on the attraction.” Grandt continued, “Something fun will be coming to the Magic Kingdom and we stole a move from Steve’s playbook to make it happen… Thank you Steve.”

Thank you Steve, indeed.

(Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56 years old.)

**If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email: rememberingsteve@apple.com

Sources:

- Apple.com

- Insidethemagic.net

- Att.com