This article was published on October 16, 2018

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen passes away at 65


Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen passes away at 65

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen died yesterday at the age of 65. He was suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a type of cancer. Allen’s company Vulcan Inc. made the announcement through a statement. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world, ranked no. 44 on the Forbes list of billionaires in 2018 when he passed away.

Vulcan CEO Bill Hilf expressed his grief on the company’s blog:

All of us who had the honor of working with Paul feel inexpressible loss today. He possessed a remarkable intellect and a passion to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems, with the conviction that creative thinking and new approaches could make profound and lasting impact.

Millions of people were touched by his generosity, his persistence in pursuit of a better world, and his drive to accomplish as much as he could with the time and resources at his disposal.

Paul’s life was diverse and lived with gusto. It reflected his myriad interests in technology, music and the arts, biosciences and artificial intelligence, conservation and in the power of shared experience – in a stadium or a neighborhood – to transform individual lives and whole communities. 

The other Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said personal computing wouldn’t have existed without him:

I am heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Paul Allen. From our early days together at Lakeside School, through our partnership in the creation of Microsoft, to some of our joint philanthropic projects over the years, Paul was a true partner and dear friend. Personal computing would not have existed without him.

Top executives of Microsoft competitors like Google, Apple, and Amazon also paid homage to Allen and his contribution to the tech industry.

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But Allen didn’t just leave a big impact on the tech industry. He was also a big sports aficionado and ambitious guitarist who used to jam with Mick Jagger and Bono. That’s why in addition to the tech industry the NFL team Seattle Seahawks, NBA team Portland Trailblazers, and legendary rock band Pearl Jam paid him tribute. It’s clear that Allen will be sorely missed, both inside and outside the tech industry.

 

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