The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates has announced that his father, William Gates Sr, has died at the age of 94.
While expressing how lucky he and his sisters were to be raised by their late father, Bill Gates said William Gates died peacefully in his house at the presence of his family.
According to Bill Gates, his father facilitated his donation of $100 million to research for Alzheimer’s disease, after he disclosed his father had the disease in 2018.
He also disclosed his dad’s support gave him the inspiration to leave Harvard University to co-found a company with Paul Allen in 1975.
While penning an emotional tribute to his late father on his personal blog, Bill said: “I will miss my dad every day.”
“We will miss him more than we can express right now. We are feeling grief but also gratitude.”
“My dad’s passing was not unexpected he was 94 years old and his health had been declining, so we have all had a long time to reflect on just how lucky we are to have had this amazing man in our lives for so many years.
“My dad’s wisdom, generosity, empathy, and humility had a huge influence on people around the world.”
“I knew their love and support were unconditional, even when we clashed in my teenage years. I am sure that’s one of the reasons why I felt comfortable taking some big risks when I was young, like leaving college to start Microsoft with Paul Allen.”
“We worked together at the foundation not so much as father and son but as friends and colleagues,” he said.
“When we started doing so in a big way at the foundation, we had no idea how much fun we would have. We only grew closer during more than two decades of working together.”
“When I am at my best, I know it is because of what I learned from my dad about respecting women, honoring individuality, and guiding children’s choices with love and respect.”
“The experience of being the son of Bill Gates was incredible. People used to ask my dad if he was the real Bill Gates. The truth is, he was everything I try to be.”
