Jerome B. York Passes Away, Apple in Grief

In light of yesterday’s news about Apple Director Jerome York being hospitalized after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage, Softpedia is sad to inform that the Apple board member has passed away. Apple has updated its website posting a tribute to the late York.

Apple, as the company does in such cases, removed all of its products and product information from its website’s front page, and informed in a respectful obituary about this sad event. It remains, par excellence, a person-oriented company, as Cultofmac also notes.

“With deep sadness we announce the loss of a member of our corporate family and dear friend, Jerry York. Jerry courageously joined Apple’s Board of Directors in 1997, when many doubted the company’s future, and contributed his extraordinary character, business expertise, and leadership to help guide Apple for over a decade. Jerry was one of a kind – and we’re going to miss him dearly,” Apple mourns JeromeYork.

Before joining Apple, in 1997, York was the former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, and the former second director of Tracinda, being a devoted and engaged support for Chrysler and IBM and even for Apple during its hard times, the Mac maker says in the press release launched today.

Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, also declared himself to be in grief for York’s death, saying, “Jerry joined Apple’s Board in 1997 when most doubted the company’s future. He has been a pillar of financial and business expertise and insight on our Board for over a dozen years.” Heavy-hearted, he added, “It’s been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I’m going to miss him a lot.”

Jerome York, born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1938, graduated the United States Military Academy and received an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also had an MBA from the University Of Michigan. Apple informs that he was specialized as an engineer and was a representative figure in the auto and technology business areas.