“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” Apple’s Board of Directors said Wednesday in a 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.”

Steve Jobs is the Apple co-founder who resigned from the company in the mid-1980s and returned to make Apple one of the most successful technology companies in the world.

Jobs had been struggling with his health for the last several years.In 2004, Jobs had battled cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began. On August 24th, 2011, Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple, saying,

 ”I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

 I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.”

 The man who reshaped the tech industry

Steve Jobs helped change computers from a geeky hobbyist’s obsession to a necessity of modern life at work, school, home, and in the process he upended not just personal technology but the cellphone and music industries.