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He helped change the way we live our lives forever, and the tributes are pouring in.
Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, passed away yesterday of non-Hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 65.
Statement from Paul Allen's family. He died today at 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Seattle https://t.co/7KOi2fxySA— Mike Rosenberg (@Mike Rosenberg) 1539640840.0
He and high school classmate Bill Gates dropped out of college in 1975 to found the company, with the goal of creating "hobbyist" computing—what would eventually become the "PC" that now sits on nearly all desks (or laps) and change life as we know it forever.
Indeed Bill Gates, in his public statement about Allen's passing, said of Allen that "personal computing would not have existed without him."
New: @BillGates statement on the passing of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen: "I am heartbroken by the passing of on… https://t.co/vtY6YlGfOd— Cristiano Lima (@Cristiano Lima) 1539647766.0
Allen left Microsoft in 1983, after a falling out with Gates, but retained his shares in the company, which made him a billionaire upon its going public in 1986. In the decades since, Allen invested in a myriad of tech and business entities, as well as launching an enormous range of philanthropic efforts in technology and artificial intelligence, medical research, environmental causes, the arts, education, and was the largest donor to the fight against the Ebola crisis in Africa, funding organizations like the Red Cross/Red Crescent and Médecins Sans Frontières (more commonly known in the US as Doctors Without Borders).
Allen was also an avid investor in sports teams, purchasing the Portland Trailblazers NBA franchise in 1988 and singlehandedly keeping the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle by purchasing them in 1997, when their former owner attempted to move the team to California.
Lesser known but no less impressive, was Allen's enormous talent as a musician--so much so that legendary music mogul Quincy Jones recently put Allen's guitar playing on the same level as Jimi Hendrix.
In light of Paul Allen's death, let's take some time to remember that Quincy Jones interview where he said Allen wa… https://t.co/EQT4vTor4T— Ryan Mac (@Ryan Mac) 1539641062.0
Jones himself paid tribute to his friend on Twitter, calling him a "killer guitar player."
RIP to my dear friend (& killer guitar player) Paul Allen. Your genius & generosity has & will forever be felt by mankind.— Quincy Jones (@Quincy Jones) 1539644201.0
Jones was joined by countless others, from tech insiders and sports figures to Hollywood luminaries wanting to pay their respects and say good bye:
Among the many impacts of Paul Allen, who died at age 65 today: *Co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates *Owner of Sea… https://t.co/9CtdgXNb37— Mike Rosenberg (@Mike Rosenberg) 1539641005.0
Deeply saddened by the passing of @PaulGAllen. I’ll miss him greatly. His gracious leadership and tremendous inspir… https://t.co/MYONGpsjnG— Pete Carroll (@Pete Carroll) 1539643204.0
"I look at him as somebody who I aspired to be." - @Nate13Burleson on Paul Allen https://t.co/prtkr6LzDl— NFL Total Access (@NFL Total Access) 1539642314.0
Paul Allen and Bill Gates in 2013, recreating their classic 1981 photo: https://t.co/zzvmlLxDho— Jon Erlichman (@Jon Erlichman) 1539641650.0
In 1995, Paul Allen licensed the ESPN name for his sports site on the Internet. He was so far ahead that there were… https://t.co/rkHqNGamS6— Darren Rovell (@Darren Rovell) 1539641857.0
He attended WSU. He helped save the Seahawks from moving to CA. He voted to keep the Sonics in Seattle. He helpe… https://t.co/BFgYtNqMiP— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710 ESPN Seattle) 1539643837.0
Rest in Peace Paul Allen. It feels weird mourning a billionaire who you never met, but some of the best moments and… https://t.co/OWciszbj2O— KARMS (@KARMS) 1539641369.0
Saddened by the news on Paul Allen...Your post win congratulatory handshakes were always the best. And we had a lot… https://t.co/U6v9TGHjBg— Bryan Walters (@Bryan Walters) 1539641718.0
RIP to the man in charge of it all, Mr. Paul Allen. I hope we sent you out with high praises with our victory yeste… https://t.co/RlyASgmjSf— Frank Clark (@Frank Clark) 1539641831.0
I just lost a dear, brilliant, talented friend of two-plus decades. His real legacy will be the ongoing brain rese… https://t.co/jNNFDoOV4N— Harry Shearer (@Harry Shearer) 1539641632.0
Allen may be gone, but his impact seems like it will live on forever.