Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, passed away on Oct. 6, 2011. The inventor and businessman is best known for pushing the personal computer and later in his career revolutionizing the way we consume media via the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

His contributions to animation are great as well. In 1986, he purchased Pixar from George Lucas and pushed for the first CG animated feature. In 2006, he sold the studio to the Walt Disney Co., becoming the company's biggest shareholder and a member of the board.

Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955 and was adopted. He dropped out of Oregon's Reed College after one semester and formed Apple in a garage. Before he gained great success he slept on friends' couches and sold bottles for food money.

In 1986, he was ousted at Apple during an internal power struggle and then founded NeXT Computer, which was bought by Apple in 1996.

In 2004, he began treatment for pancreatic cancer and in 2009 had a secret liver transplant.

Apple’s Board of Directors release the following statement:

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.