Reactions to Steve Jobs’ death
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ death sparked an outpouring of sentiment and statements from fellow chief executives and other major figures in Silicon Valley, government and the entertainment industry.
IN TECHNOLOGY:
Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, reached at dinner with his son, said he was so overwhelmed by calls that he could not get in touch with his emotions: “People sometimes have goals in life. Steve Jobs exceeded every goal he ever set for himself.”
Tim Cook, Apple chief executive and Jobs’ successor, in an email to employees: “Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.… We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”
Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and chairman: “Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.... For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor.”
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and chief executive: “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”
Larry Page, Google co-founder and chief executive: “He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me.”
Dick Costolo, Twitter chief executive, by tweet: “Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesn’t just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement.”
Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo: “Steve was my hero growing up.”
Marc Andreessen, Netscape co-founder and venture capitalist: “Steve’s work made the world a better place for hundreds of millions of people.”
Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and chief executive: “Steve was a teacher to anyone paying attention, and today is a very sad day for everyone who cares about innovation and high standards.”
AMONG POLITICIANS:
President Obama: “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.… And 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.”
Gov. Jerry Brown: “Few people have made such a powerful and elegant imprint on our lives.”
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg: “Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come.”
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.): “Steve Jobs was a California icon who embodied Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit of creativity and optimism.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco): “His sage advice was respected by policymakers on both sides of the aisle. His courageous fight against cancer brought strength to many.”
ENTERTAINMENT:
Bob Iger, Walt Disney Co. chief executive: “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.”
George Lucas, director: “The magic of Steve was that while others simply accepted the status quo, he saw the true potential in everything he touched and never compromised on that vision.”
John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, chief creative officer and president of Pixar Animation Studios: “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.… He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA.”
Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner chief executive: “In a society that has seen incredible technological innovation during our lifetimes, Steve may be the one true icon whose legacy will be remembered for a thousand years.”
Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. chief executive: “Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation.”
