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A Sister's Eulogy for Steve Jobs

Sunday October 30, 2011 1:37 PM PDT by Arnold Kim

The New York Times publishes a touching eulogy written by Steve Jobs' sister Mona Simpson:

None of us knows for certain how long we’ll be here. On Steve’s better days, even in the last year, he embarked upon projects and elicited promises from his friends at Apple to finish them. Some boat builders in the Netherlands have a gorgeous stainless steel hull ready to be covered with the finishing wood. His three daughters remain unmarried, his two youngest still girls, and he’d wanted to walk them down the aisle as he’d walked me the day of my wedding.

We all — in the end — die in medias res. In the middle of a story. Of many stories.

Photo from USC.edu

Top Rated Comments

Nicky G

186 months ago

How could one not be in tears by the end of this. Truly amazing. Steve, you wowed us so many times -- it's fitting to know you yourself were in a state of awe as you, as they said in Hudsucker Proxy, "Merged with the infinite." Beautiful.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

movie-mac

186 months ago

Oh wow.

Indeed.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheOrioles33

186 months ago

A sad and beautiful read.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

SvP

186 months ago

When my father died, of lung cancer, it was similar. Jerky breaths, hard work, steps as if there was huge mountain to climb, no backing up. My mother, my brother and me found it very sad, but also very special, loving, beautiful. We knew he was proud, we knew he was sad to leave us. I hope his family finds themselves strong, and able to cope without him. If my guesses of the man's personality are right; he married a fantastic woman, businesswoman, mother and wife, and parented his kids into well balanced, good minded and kind people. I wish them the best.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

PinkâFloyd

186 months ago

I want to see steve's sketchpad

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Nicky G

186 months ago

This is what makes this NOT sad. Listen folks -- the ONLY thing you can count on for sure, is that you will die. It is natural, and right -- NOT a punishment. Steve accomplished more in his life, both in terms of what he contributed to society at large, and, I think, more importantly, in his own personal development, than most people ever will. He had a beautiful life, and in those last moments, maybe, just maybe, as one poster here so eloquently said, saw "one more thing" so much greater and more wonderful than even HE of all people could have imagined...

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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