Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was born 65 years ago today, February 24, 1955. Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. He co-founded Apple, along with Steve Wozniak. Jobs also saved the company from the brink of extinction, making a triumphant return to the company after being ousted 12 years before.
65 is thought of as the retirement age for most folks in the United States. It’s interesting to think that if Jobs was still around, whether he’d retire at 65, or would he be taking the stage at Apple Park to introduce “One more thing.”
(The company honored Jobs by naming the theater at Apple Park the Steve Jobs Theater. The entrance to the 1,000-seat auditorium is a 20-foot-tall glass cylinder, 165 feet in diameter, supporting a metallic carbon-fiber roof.)
While it hasn’t happened as of the time of this article, current Apple CEO Tim Cook traditionally tweets a tribute to Jobs on the Apple co-founder’s birthday. We’ll update this article when Tim tweets his tribute.
UPDATE 8:00 a.m. CST: Tim Cook has posted his usual tribute to Jobs:
“Thinking of Steve today on his birthday — his friendship, passion, and especially the laughter and joy he inspired.”
Jobs co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976, offering the Apple I home computer in kit form for $666.66. The firm went one to introduce the Apple II home computer to a receptive home and educational marketplace.
The company went on to introduce the Macintosh computer in 1984 before Jobs was pushed out in a power struggle in 1985. Jobs went on to found NeXT computer that same year, which was acquired by Apple in 1997. That move led to Jobs’ returning to the company he loved.
Under Jobs, Apple went on to introduce the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He also made the decision to power the company’s fading Mac lineup with Intel processors.
Jobs died on October 5th, 2011 at the age of 56. He had suffered from complications related to pancreatic cancer in the time leading up to his death.
Happy Birthday, Steve, thanks for following your heart.
“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”