Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, died Wednesday at the age of 56 after battling with pancreatic cancer for years.

Apple announced his death in a brief statement, without providing any details about where he died. We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today, the company said in a brief statement.

Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004 and had an operation in 2004, a liver transplant in 2009 and took three leaves of absence before he permanently resigned as the CEO of Apple Aug. 24.

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come, Jobs wrote in a letter to the board of directors then.

Jobs also seemed to have come to terms with the concept of death.

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life's change agent,“ Jobs said.

Jobs spoke about death in a 2005 speech that he gave to Stanford graduates.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart, Jobs said.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice, he said.

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