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[Skip to main content](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/steve-job-obituary/#main) [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/) October 5, 2011 2 min read [ Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=scientificamerican.com) # Steve Jobs Dies at 56 The Apple co-founder and personal computing visionary succumbed to pancreatic cancer By [Michael A. Prospero](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/michael-a-prospero/) & [LAPTOP](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/laptop/) Join Our Community of Science Lovers\! Sign Up for Our Free Daily Newsletter Steve Jobs, the co-founder of [Apple](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/08/25/the-highlights-and-lowlights-of-apples-steve-jobs-era/), died Wednesday at age 56. The cause was pancreatic cancer. Jobs had been [battling cancer](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=apples-jobs-takes-medical-leave-of-2009-01-14) for at least 6 years, telling his employees in 2004 that he was being treated for the disease, and undergoing a l[iver transplant](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-might-steve-jobs-live) in 2009. On August 24, he announced to the board of Apple that he was stepping down as CEO, whereupon Tim Cook, the COO, took over. Jobs’ death comes one day after the company, now under the helm of Tim Cook, announced the iPhone 4S, the latest in a series of handheld products that has catapaulted Apple as one of the leading device makers over the past decade, starting with the iPod and iTunes in 2001. *** ## On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by [subscribing](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/). By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. *** [Apple](http://www.apple.com/) [Ten Most Memorable Steve Jobs Moments](http://blog.laptopmag.com/10-most-memorable-steve-jobs-ceo-moments?slide=1) [End of an Era: Steve Jobs Resigns](http://blog.laptopmag.com/end-of-an-era-steve-jobs-resigns-as-apple-ceo) Born in 1955, Jobs grew up in Cupertino, California, and co-founded Apple in 1975 with Steve Wozniak, building the company’s first computer, the Apple 1 in his parents’ garage. In 1977, they released the Apple II, the first mass-market personal computer. In 1985, Jobs was ousted as CEO of Apple, and went on to found NeXT Computer, which was purchased by Apple in 1996 for \$400 million. Jobs, once again CEO of Apple, announced the iMac in 1998, an all-in-one computer that not only abandoned the drab beige boxes in favor of multiple colors, and also was the first notebook to eschew a floppy drive. That was followed the next year by the iBook, a laptop that also used the same bright colors as the iMac. Perhaps Jobs’ biggest success, and indicator of his forward thinking, was the introduction of iTunes in 2001, which changed the way consumers purchase music. Combined with the iPod, it led to Apple’s domination in the MP3 music player category. That was followed by the iPhone in 2007, the MacBook Air in 2008, and the iPad in 2010, all of which presaged explosive growth of devices in their respective categories. Following Jobs’ death, Tim Cook sent out the following note to all Apple employees: *Team,**I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.**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.**We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.**No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.**Tim* © 2011 TechMediaNetwork.com. All rights reserved. [More by Michael A. Prospero](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/michael-a-prospero/) [More by LAPTOP](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/laptop/) ## It’s Time to Stand Up for Science If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history. I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too. If you [subscribe to Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/), you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized. In return, you get essential news, [captivating podcasts](https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcasts/), brilliant infographics, [can't-miss newsletters](https://www.scientificamerican.com/newsletters/), must-watch videos, [challenging games](https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/), and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even [gift someone a subscription](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/gift/). There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.  Thank you, David M. 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October 5, 2011 2 min read [ Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=scientificamerican.com) The Apple co-founder and personal computing visionary succumbed to pancreatic cancer By [Michael A. Prospero](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/michael-a-prospero/) & [LAPTOP](https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/laptop/) Steve Jobs, the co-founder of [Apple](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/08/25/the-highlights-and-lowlights-of-apples-steve-jobs-era/), died Wednesday at age 56. The cause was pancreatic cancer. Jobs had been [battling cancer](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=apples-jobs-takes-medical-leave-of-2009-01-14) for at least 6 years, telling his employees in 2004 that he was being treated for the disease, and undergoing a l[iver transplant](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-might-steve-jobs-live) in 2009. On August 24, he announced to the board of Apple that he was stepping down as CEO, whereupon Tim Cook, the COO, took over. Jobs’ death comes one day after the company, now under the helm of Tim Cook, announced the iPhone 4S, the latest in a series of handheld products that has catapaulted Apple as one of the leading device makers over the past decade, starting with the iPod and iTunes in 2001. *** ## On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by [subscribing](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/). By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. *** [Apple](http://www.apple.com/) [Ten Most Memorable Steve Jobs Moments](http://blog.laptopmag.com/10-most-memorable-steve-jobs-ceo-moments?slide=1) [End of an Era: Steve Jobs Resigns](http://blog.laptopmag.com/end-of-an-era-steve-jobs-resigns-as-apple-ceo) Born in 1955, Jobs grew up in Cupertino, California, and co-founded Apple in 1975 with Steve Wozniak, building the company’s first computer, the Apple 1 in his parents’ garage. In 1977, they released the Apple II, the first mass-market personal computer. In 1985, Jobs was ousted as CEO of Apple, and went on to found NeXT Computer, which was purchased by Apple in 1996 for \$400 million. Jobs, once again CEO of Apple, announced the iMac in 1998, an all-in-one computer that not only abandoned the drab beige boxes in favor of multiple colors, and also was the first notebook to eschew a floppy drive. That was followed the next year by the iBook, a laptop that also used the same bright colors as the iMac. Perhaps Jobs’ biggest success, and indicator of his forward thinking, was the introduction of iTunes in 2001, which changed the way consumers purchase music. Combined with the iPod, it led to Apple’s domination in the MP3 music player category. That was followed by the iPhone in 2007, the MacBook Air in 2008, and the iPad in 2010, all of which presaged explosive growth of devices in their respective categories. Following Jobs’ death, Tim Cook sent out the following note to all Apple employees: *Team,**I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.**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.**We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.**No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.**Tim* © 2011 TechMediaNetwork.com. All rights reserved. ## It’s Time to Stand Up for Science If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history. I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too. If you [subscribe to Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/), you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized. In return, you get essential news, [captivating podcasts](https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcasts/), brilliant infographics, [can't-miss newsletters](https://www.scientificamerican.com/newsletters/), must-watch videos, [challenging games](https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/), and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even [gift someone a subscription](https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/gift/). There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.