After
battling pancreatic cancer for several years, the co-founder of Apple,
Steve Jobs, died on Wednesday, October 5 at age 56.
"There may be no greater tribute
to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing
on a device he invented," said Obama in response to Jobs death.
Apple.
A digital advancement that is on a level of its own. It's the trademark behind
Mac, iTunes, the iPod, iPhone and iPad.
Co-founded
in 1976 with long-time friend Stephen Wozniak, Apple is still at the forefront
of the digital market. Jobs had to step down as chief executive in August of
this year as his ailment became publicly vivid.
Jobs strongly believed in eastern medicine and used several alternative treatments and specialized diets before he reluctantly underwent surgery in 2004 and received a liver transplant in 2009.
According to Forbes, Jobs was the 110th richest person in the world. His wealth was mostly accumulated when he produced Pixar for Disney in 2006 which was worth about $7 billion.
A college dropout at Reed, a liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, Jobs was one of few who found success. He left after his first semester, not because he lacked intelligence, but due to insufficient financial support.
Despite his academic setback, the San Francisco native went on to invent a brand that is valued worldwide - in homes, the classroom and business.
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life," said Jobs in his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. "Because almost everything; all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure, these things just fall away in the face of death...Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to lose. You are already naked, there is no reason not to follow your heart."
Jobs is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laurene Powell, and his 4 children.