Tributes pour in for Steve Jobs

06 October 2011

by Poppy Reid

Tributes have poured in after the death of Apple Founder Steve Jobs, aged 56.

Jobs' death was announced by Apple Inc. who released an online statement which partly read:

"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, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

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 tech giant had been battling illness for years, even stepping down from his position three times in his career; his most recent medical leave began on August 24.

Microsoft co-founder and Jobs' competitor, Bill Gates honoured Jobs in an emailed statement, expressing their 30-year friendship since the 1970s was an “insanely great honour.”

"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely.

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come."

Other tributes flowed in for Jobs from John Sculley, Apple’s chief executive in the 1980s, who said, “He taught all of us how to transform technology into magic.” Scully is also renowned as the man who once had Jobs kicked out of the company he’d co-founded.

Bob Metcalfe, co-inventor of Ethernet networking technology and a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said, “Steve’s big contribution to the computer industry was to take it away from the nerds and give it to the people.”

Steven Levy, who wrote the chronicles of Mac in his 1994 book Insanely Great said, “He was the most passionate leader one could hope for, a motivating force without parallel. Tom Sawyer could have picked up tricks from Steve Jobs.”

Jobs is survived by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, and his four children.