Remembering Steve Jobs: Apple reflects on his passing one year later

On Oct. 5, 2011, just one day after Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer. Today, Apple reflects on Jobs’ passing with a heartfelt video on Apple.com and a note from chief executive Tim Cook.

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In true Apple fashion, the company has dedicated the landing page of Apple.com with the video and letter (even though it may slightly impede visitors looking for details on the iPhone 5).

Cook asked the public to reflect on Jobs’ life and noted, “One of the greatest gifts Steve gave to the world is Apple.”

On the day of his passing, fans gathered at Apple stores all over the world to pay tribute. In New York City, a somber crowd gathered at the company’s flagship Fifth Avenue store (someone even managed to spray paint “iLove Steve” on a wall covering the remodeling of the store). Due to the outpouring of fan reactions, Apple ended up creating a “Remembering Steve” section on its site.

Whatever you may think of Jobs, it’s hard to deny his impact on the world of technology. As VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi put it, his passing was also a clear reminder that Silicon Valley needs to remember its history.

Below, check out the full text from Tim Cook’s letter:

A message from Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO

Steve’s passing one year ago today was a sad and difficult time for all of us. I hope that today everyone will reflect on his extraordinary life and the many ways he made the world a better place.

One of the greatest gifts Steve gave to the world is Apple. No company has ever inspired such creativity or set such high standards for itself. Our values originated from Steve and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple. We share the great privilege and responsibility of carrying his future legacy into the future.

I’m incredibly proud of the work we are doing, delivering products that our customers love and dreaming up new ones that will delight them down the road. It’s a wonderful tribute to Steve’s memory and everything he stood for.

Tim