In Memory of Jim Sachs
This photo, posted on August 11th and taken on July 25th, sadly, took on more significance August 15, 2002, the day Jim died. I met Jim in September of 1996 -- the first "interview" that I had been on in nearly 20 years. We hit it off immediately and that couple of hours of conversation led to the hiring of the initial firmware team at SoftBook Press. Working with Jim (and the extraordinary group he attracted) over the past five years provided the best possible work environment -- under Jim's leadership, SoftBook defined, developed and launched the eBook market -- the company grew to nearly 100 people and was bought by Gemstar in early 2000.
Jim fought non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma bravely and with an amazingly positive spirit for the past two years -- he was in the wrong 30% of the 70%-cure-rate of both chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant. He handled the horrible experiences and ultimately the final prognosis with unfathomable courage and dignity -- an inspiration that I will never see repeated.
Jim was a visionary engineer, a talented CEO, a leader to be followed, an enviable father and husband, and a great friend. Jim's passing, at 47, is truly the worst of things happening to the best of people -- unfair in the extreme. Jim, you are missed by all who knew you.