Macintosh Creator Raskin Dies

Tragic news in the computer world this week. the "father" of the macintosh computer has died at 61. He was ill for a while, in December he told his friends that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died last Saturday night at his home in Pacifica, California.

Jef Raskin was a computer interface expert who was the creator behind Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh computer. But Raskin left the company before it came to market.

Raskin joined Apple in 1978 to start the young company's publications department. At the time, computers were primarily text-based. In 1979, Raskin had a different idea: A computer that's priced affordably, targeted at consumers and extremely easy to use. His concept would eventually become the Macintosh. "His role on the Macintosh was the initiator of the project, so it wouldn't be here if it weren't for him," said Andy Hertzfeld, an early Mac team member.

Raskin, who worked as a computer science professor before joining Apple, was well aware of the research being done in computer interfaces. "Raskin led the project until the summer of 1981, when he had a falling out with Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder. He left the company entirely the following year.

While best known in the computer industry, Raskin also pursued other interests. He conducted the San Francisco Chamber Opera Society and played three instruments. His artwork was displayed at New York's Museum of Modern Art. He also received a patent for airplane wing construction. He was an accomplished archer, target shooter and occasional race car driver, friends said.