While most of us come and leave this world with little fanfare, there are those among us whose passing, especially if untimely, captures hearts and headlines around the world. The death of a celebrity, or prominent public figure, just does something to people. A death can stir up fond memories, extreme hatred, or obsessive curiosity.
Every year we’re shocked by some of the deaths we read about, and 2011 was no different. This year we saw the deaths of Steve Jobs, Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong-il, Andy Rooney, Jack Kevorkian, Betty Ford, Heavy D, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Amy Winehouse, Joe Frazier, among others.
If someone was to ask you to name the top 10 famous deaths of 2011… could you do it?It’s tougher than you might imagine.
On Wednesday evening Pacific Standard Time, Apple held a private memorial for Steve Jobs. It was an employees only event and was held in an outdoor amphitheater at their headquarters in Cupertino. It's been reported that the memorial was attended by former American Vice President and Apple board member, Al Gore. Norah Jones and Coldplay performed at the event. During the service closure, Chris Martin, frontman for Coldplay told everyone to get back to work because that's what Steve himself would have wanted.
Apple stores around the country remained closed on Wednesday for three hours so employees could watch the event. The glass windows that served as store fronts were covered with white sheets. Earlier in the week, Tim Cook had emailed Apple employees telling them that Apple wanted to, "take time to remember the incredible things Steve achieved in his life and the many ways he made our world a better place."
Before this memorial at Apple's campus, a private memorial was held for Jobs at Stanford Memorial Church on Sunday. It was attended by former US President, Bill Clinton, U2 frontman Bono, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and lots of other public figures, crossing the worlds of politics, technology and entertainment.
