Steve Jobs Death Certificate Indicates Apple Innovator Died of Respiratory Arrest

As the world continues to mourn the loss of Apple (AAPL) co-founder Steve Jobs, a copy of his death certificate was made public Monday, indicating the technological revolutionary and innovator died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs.

Jobs died last Wednesday at 56. He had fought back from a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and had endured a liver transplant in 2009. Despite disintegrating health, he remained chief executive of the company until his Aug. 24, 2011, resignation.

Apple did not disclose his cause of death, but the death certificate released by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, and obtained by The Associated Press, said Jobs had a metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor for the past five years. It listed his immediate cause of death as respiratory arrest, Bloomberg News reported.

He died at his home in Palo Alto. No autopsy was performed, and he was buried Friday in what officials said was a small, private ceremony attended by family.

The death certificate listed Jobs' occupation as a high-tech entrepreneur.

Apple said no public services are planned.

Apple to Hold Celebration of Steve Jobs' Life Soon

In a letter to Apple's employees on Wednesday, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said that the company is planning a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for staff that will take place soon.

Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives, the company said in a statement. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

Jobs founded his company in Cupertino, Calif., in 1976, when he was just 21 years old. By age 25, he was a multi-millionaire, making his debut on the cover of Time Magazine at 26. He was ousted at age 30 but returned in 1996, with the company struggling. The next year, he became CEO, and over the next 15 years, he presided over technologies that changed the way the world operates.

Under his leadership, the company developed the iPod in 2001, widely credited for reviving the suffering music industry. Continuing to revolutionize technology, Apple released the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being, read a banner on the company's website. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.