This week De Anza College mourns the loss of Silicon Valley’s prodigal son, Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc.  Jobs formed Apple in his parent’s garage with friend and colleague Steve Wozniak. Both attended De Anza. in the past.

With the advent of iMacs, iPods, iPhones and iPads, Apple is a company whose products can be seen virtually everywhere across the world.

Born in San Francisco, Jobs’ life and career embodied the spirit of Silicon Valley: ambition, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Over the course of a decade he aided in elevating Apple from its humble beginnings to the position of status symbol and cultural icon.  His company championed the idea of simple, user-friendly personal computers and electronic devices. 

Looking around campus, it is obvious the effect Steve Jobs and Apple have had on De Anza.  Practically every computer at this school is an Apple product.  Apple products are sold in the bookstore, and they can be found in the hands of many students wandering to and from classes. 

A display of original Macintosh computers donated by Steve Wozniak can be found at the entrance of the Advanced Technology Center.  The Apple 1 prototype was hand made by Steve Wozniak and sold by Steve Jobs; only 200 units were produced.   Each computer consisted of a wooden box that housed a primitive (to today’s standards) circuit board; everything else had to be provided by the customer.

-“Steve Jobs changed the way that students live and learn today,” said Marisa Spatafore, De Anza’s director of marketing and communications.  “De Anza College was fortunate to call him a neighbor, and part of his legacy will be the innovations that serve to connect diverse and distant communities as neighbors. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends, as well as to his colleagues at Apple.”

In a 2005 commencement speech at Standofrd University, Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life; don’t be trapped by dogma; don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Everything else is secondary.”

The editors of La Voz firmly believe the world has lost one of its great innovators. Steve Jobs was a man of immense vision, and served as a shining example for those of us who dream of shaping the world.  He will be greatly missed.