Statement By President Obama On The Passing of Steve Jobs

"The world has lost a visionary"
President Obama hailed Steve Jobs as one of the greatest of American innovators in a statement mourning the death of the technology pioneer, which was announced today by Apple, the company he co-founded in 1976. The President offered condolences to Jobs' family as he noted that Jobs transformed the world.

"The world has lost a visionary," President Obama said. "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."

The President's full statement:

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. 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.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. 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. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

Jobs was 56 and died after a long struggle with cancer. The President and Jobs were together in Woodside, California last February for a Digital Dinner that included eleven technology titans, many of whom became billionaires after creating companies whose names are now verbs: Google, Twitter, Facebook. (Above: Jobs is on the President's left; Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is at right)

A message was also tweeted on the President's @BarackObama Twitter account:

"Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day—including ours."

*Second photo by Pete Souza/White House