That the news was predictable doesn’t make it less painful. And somehow it feels so personal.
Maybe because he was so brilliant; maybe because it’s so close to all of our lives in so many ways. Not just the devices we use every day but maybe because he seemed to be the ultimate survivor—so it hits hard that even Steve Jobs was powerless against cancer.
Just a few weeks ago when he stepped down at Apple, I wished there was someone as innovative in medicine as Jobs was in technology. What he needed most, I thought, was his scientific counterpart—the Steve Jobs of medicine.
Which points to the poignant coincidence attached to this tragedy.
A few days before Jobs died, another man died of pancreatic cancer. Also a visionary, Ralph Steinman was a medical pioneer whose discovery of dendritic cells directly led to the development of immunotherapy, what experts consider the most promising area in cancer research.
Extending the parallel was reading about Ralph Steinman—how he was not taken seriously, scoffed at when he first presented his work. Like Jobs, he persisted in the face of failure and frustration, remaining true to himself and his ideas; ultimately dying just before learning that he had won the Nobel Prize.
It’s possible that the lessons of Steinman’s life can be also expressed in these quotes by Steve Jobs:
Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
How ironic and poignant—both visionaries, who died of the same disease in the same week; two men whose insights and innovations will continue changing the future they won’t live to see.
P.S. As I was writing this and thinking about Steve Jobs—-I wondered if maybe there should be a Nobel Prize in technology to reflect the times. What do you think?
Also posted on the Huffington Post
After becoming a writer, artist, TV journalist, mother and breast cancer survivor----I realize nothing turns out the way we expect. So I blog about handling the big and little things — with humor, humanity, and hope.
It’s really incredible how much his death has affected the whole world. Just came from the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue and among the numerous memorials, several people have bought apples from the fruit vendor in front, taken a bite, and leaving them on the steps of the store. Here is a short article if you have not seen it: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/10/06/apples_fifth_ave_store_becomes_memorial_site_for_steve_jobs.html
Thanks for the link–it’s amazing to see memorials all over the world—and especially to think how he touched hearts and minds worldwide in such a personal way.
I just heard a story on NPR about Ralph Steinman. Apparently the Nobel Prize is not awarded posthumously. Great post. And yes to a Nobel Prize for technology!
Steinman’s death did provide some controversy because the family had not announced his death before the prize award–such ironic timing; but guess he could have received the Nobel either way. And yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a posthumous Nobel in technology for Jobs? Thanks so much, Ilina.
D/
Nice piece. I Googled Steve Jobs/Ralph Steinman to see who else had made the connection. There were a few other blogs and articles, but none that I thought was better than yours ( I’m biased… What can I say ? ). I liked your suggestion of adding a Technology Award to the Nobel Prize as technology is the most dominant aspect of our current reality. Better yet might be to create a series of Awards under the various categories of technological advancement and call them the Job Prizes. Apple certainly has the money to endow this and it would create a fitting tribute to one of the great innovators of this, or any other, era.
V/
Well, I appreciate that you tried Googling the connection–and appreciate you liked mine best–yet, what else COULD you say? Also love the idea of the Apple Awards for the future—would not be surprised if the Apple folks, always ahead of the game, are already working on something like that.
I do think with all the brilliant creative minds around the world now devoted to technology, it would be fitting to add a category and to salute Jobs’ achievements with the first Nobel in Technology.
There was an article in the NY Post earlier this week that said that Ralph Steinman would receive the Nobel Prize posthumously. Here is the article: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nobel_death_xuXrLqfpOdJ3Hnk3emZQmN
Absolutely there should be a Nobel Prize for Technology. Just consider the world changing role of cell phones and twitter in the upheaval in the Middle East. The same is true for China and other totalitarian countries. Not to mention the inestimable influence of technology in ways large and small on our daily personal lives. Start a movement, Darryle.
Thanks, Tom. Totally agree—I think many of the smartest minds today all over the world are devoting themselves to technology and should absolutely be acknowledged by the Nobel prizes. Meanwhile I’ll resist the urge to joke about a movement–and just say that I’m not moved enough to start one, but hope someone else will.