My interactions with Steve were typically very brief, mostly (thankfully not always) through intermediaries… friends, emails, and even campaigns. I did get much closer than most ever did, and I got to talk to him more than most ever dream. It brightens my day when he acknowledged (once or twice) that I was right. And, I am saddened that I didn’t get closer to his universe in the brief time overlap that I could.

I’ve often argued that it took a crusade to change Apple’s mindset, and I was always referring to one guy. That one guy was right on most of the time. That guy changed the world.

It’s taken me a couple of days to put together comments on Steve’s passing. There are few people that I have ever felt their loss would hurt either myself, or the world, as much as his did. Every time I talked to him, even in the times I didn’t agree with him, I knew he would change the world.

I’m honored to have rooted for him when few did. I am humbled that he, and everyone on his team, paid for my college education (I bought AAPL at $4/share post-splits, right about when he returned to Apple). And, I thank him for making some insanely great products. Steve, humanity will never forget you.