Tributes Pour In for Steve Jobs
The death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs yesterday at age 56 has inspired a deluge of memorial comments from grateful users of the company’s innovation from all walks of life. Here is a sampling of tributes, from the President to rockers to other creative leaders:
President Barack Obama: Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world… The world has lost a visionary. 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.
Paul McCartney: Steve was a great creative artist. He was also a loving husband and father and I feel privileged to have known him. I enjoyed his quick sense of humor and his love of music. He came to quite a few of our concerts and it was always a pleasure to see him bopping on the sidelines. I once said to him that he must be extremely proud of what he had done. He agreed but said he was even prouder of what he had not done. A great man who will be missed by me and many others.
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.
Steven Spielberg: Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips.
George Lucas: 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, Pixar/Walt Disney: The one thing he always said was to simply “make it great.” He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA.
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.
Larry Page, Google co-founder: His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me.
The Grammys: Thank you for revolutionizing the way we listen to music. Your vision will not be forgotten.
Coldplay: We are so sad to hear about the passing of Steve Jobs. In all of our encounters with him he was such a lovely man, and always so humble.
Trent Reznor: Thanks for the tools, the inspiration, the possibilities.
Brad Paisley: I am glad I get to live in the world Steve Jobs enhanced.
Sebastian Bach: RIP Steve Jobs. Thanks for allowing me to put my whole CD collection in my pocket.
P. Diddy: RIP to one of my HEROS Steve Jobs!!! You’s a Bad Mother fucka! 4real. Changed the game. Thanks for dreaming So BIG!!!
Imogen Heap: Early songs on a Mac Classic II to now through the night on my G5. Your beautiful life’s work is everywhere.
Billy Ray Cyrus: What the mind of man can conceive and believe… it can achieve.
Jared Leto: Maybe we can turn our phones + comps off at a certain time in honor of his contributions.
Patton Oswalt, comedian: RIP Steve Jobs. Closest thing we had to Tony Stark.
Alec Baldwin: Sad about Steve Jobs. On par with Henry Ford, Carnegie and Edison.
John Hodgman (the PC in the Mac/PC ads): Everything good I have done, I have done on a Mac.
Neil Diamond: iSad.
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