Gordon Moore, who co-founded technology behemoth Intel and served as its former chairman, passed away on Friday at the age of 94, as announced by Intel and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Moore died in Hawaii, "surrounded by family," according to a press release.
In 1968, Moore, along with Robert Noyce, founded Intel. Initially, he served as executive vice president until 1975, when he became president. He was appointed chairman of the board and CEO in 1979 and held those positions until 1987 when he resigned as CEO but continued as chairman. In 1997, he became chairman emeritus of Intel and stepped down in 2006.
"Though he never aspired to be a household name, Gordon's vision and his life's work enabled the phenomenal innovation and technological developments that shape our everyday lives," said Harvey Fineberg, the foundation's president, in a statement. "Those historic achievements are only part of his legacy."
Today, we lost a visionary.
Gordon Moore, thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/bAiBAtmd9K — Intel (@intel) March 25, 2023
Intel's CEO, Pat Gelsinger, stated, "Gordon Moore defined the technology industry through his insight and vision. He was instrumental in revealing the power of transistors, and inspired technologists and entrepreneurs across the decades."
Before founding Intel, Moore and Noyce were central figures in the establishment of Fairchild Semiconductor, where they contributed to the initial commercial production of diffused silicon transistors and, later, the world's first commercially viable integrated circuits. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted, "The world lost a giant in Gordon Moore, who was one of Silicon Valley's founding fathers and a true visionary who helped pave the way for the technological revolution."
Moore, along with his wife of 72 years, Betty Irene Whitaker, created the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Since its inception in 2000, the foundation has donated over $5.1 billion to charitable causes. Moore was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2002.
Moore is survived by his wife, his sons Kenneth and Steven, and four grandchildren.
