The technology industry just lost one of its most influential people in 2016. Andrew S. Grove, the man who helped usher in advancements in computing technology with Intel, the company he co-founded, passed away on March 21 in his home in Los Altos.
A spokesperson for the family came forward to reveal that the cause of Grove's death has yet to be determined. Grove was 79 years old at the time of his death.
Grove was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1936 and immigrated to the United States sometime between 1956 and 1957. He graduated from the City College of New York with a degree on Chemical Engineering and continued his education until he finally received his Ph.D. in 1963 at the University of California Berkeley. He worked in Research and Development (R&D) in Fairchild Semiconductor where he met and worked under his fellow Intel co-founders.
Andrew Grove, or Andy as he came to be known in his years of being active in the tech industry, was Intel's first-ever hired employee and he has been the director of engineering since his first day in the job in 1968. He eventually went on to assume presidency in the company in 1979 and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 1987. Under his leadership, he steered the company from being a maker of memory chips to becoming the leader in semiconductor technology.
"Andy made the impossible happen, time and again, and inspired generations of technologists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said.
We stand on the shoulders of giants in our work--none bigger than Andy Grove (1936-2016). You'll be greatly missed. https://t.co/5cxDY92Ah5
— Brian Krzanich (@bkrunner) March 22, 2016
Among those who looked up to his leadership and greatly appreciated Grove's innovative thinking is none other than Apple Co-Founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, who we all know also led his own company to greatness. Even Apple's current CEO, Tim Cook, expressed his sorrow for Grove's passing.
Andy Grove was one of the giants of the technology world. He loved our country and epitomized America at its best. Rest in peace. — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 22, 2016
It would come as no surprise that many of the tech industry's leaders today looked up to Grove and Twitter is proof of that on this sad day.
RIP Andy Grove, took @intel & its microprocessors to the top, and kept them there: https://t.co/qLDddEDlhe — Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) March 22, 2016
Andy Grove was a pillar in the tech industry, and has left a lasting impression on us all. You will be missed. https://t.co/WXURiLvG9y — Yuanqing Yang (@Yuanqing_Lenovo) March 22, 2016
Andy Grove, RIP. Thank you for inspiring all of us who are immigrant founders. Your plain talk will be missed. https://t.co/hfE4cLwxQu — Om Malik (@om) March 22, 2016
Of course, it is not only the tech leaders who looked up to him but those who saw the value of his innovative work as well.
It's not hyperbole to say there is no modern tech industry without Andy Grove. https://t.co/jjRbc36qcZ — Shira Ovide (@ShiraOvide) March 22, 2016
