Apple Mourns Loss of Jerome B. York

Amid all the hustle and bustle of the iPad, Apple’s homepage today is plain with one news story. There are no ads or links to fancy pre-orders or special deals. Apple’s front page today serves as a memorial to Jerome B. York, one of Apple’s (and many other companies) most influential directors. He passed away on March 18th 2010 at 71 years old…

Jerome B. (Jerry) York wore a few different caps in his life time, between being the chairman, president and CEO of Harwinton Capital, a former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, and the former vice chairman of Tracinda. His name is synonymous with unlikely turnarounds at Chrysler and IBM. His role at Apple was similar.

York join joined Apple’s Board of Directors in 1997, and Steve Jobs had some kind words…

“Jerry joined Apple’s Board in 1997 when most doubted the company’s future. He has been a pillar of financial and business expertise and insight on our Board for over a dozen years…It’s been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I’m going to miss him a lot.”

Apple’s official press release briefly details York’s life as an educated man who worked hard. Broader media sites indicate York died from a stroke.

Nearly everyone from web-forum to CNNMoney is busy recapping how York turned a rare triple play in his lifetime, playing key roles in saving three massive companies — Apple, Chrysler and IBM — that had fallen on hard times.

When York joined IBM as CFO in 1993, Wall Street was calling for Big Blue to break itself up and sell off the pieces. Instead, York and CEO Lou Gerstner partnered to lead one of the most dramatic business turnaround stories in history.

Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center; and via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter and VARtweet.