“Steve Jobs’ biological father said in an interview that he regrets putting the recently resigned Apple CEO up for adoption and would like to meet him before he dies,” IBTimes reports.
“Abdulfattah John Jandali, a Syrian immigrant who now works as a vice president at a casino in a Reno, Nev., and Joanne Simpson are Jobs’ biological parents. But they gave Jobs up because Simpson’s father didn’t approve of her marrying a Syrian, although the couple did eventually marry and have children after Simpson’s father died,” IBTimes reports. “‘Her father was a tyrant, and forbade her to marry me, as I was from Syria,’ Jandali told The Daily Mail. ‘I honestly do not know to this day if Steve is aware of the fact that had it been my choice, I would have loved to have kept him.'”
“Amidst reports of Jobs’ deteriorating health, Jandali said that he would like to speak to Jobs, but he’s hesitant to initiate the interaction for fear of appearing opportunistic,” IBTimes reports. “‘I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t sadden me to have not been part of my son’s incredible journey,’ Jandali added. ‘What father wouldn’t think that? And I would think that even if he was not the head of a hugely successful company. Now I just live in hope that, before it is too late, he will reach out to me, because even to have just one coffee with him just once would make me a very happy man.'”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
Sadly it DOES look awful opportunistic of him from this standpoint.
In what way? The guy is 80 years old.
I guess if they had coffee and jobs paid for the cup this guy would be one hell of a vulture lol
He can say anything to the press.. What he says and what he wants doesn’t necessarily have to be the same thing. It LOOKS opportunistic given the situation. That doesn’t mean that that is his intention.
Unless you’ve lived in a crib all of your life and was handled by your parents with tongs, common street smarts won’t let you deny this fact.
I think if he was a gold digger or an opportunist he would have been making waves and talking to the ‘press’ a long time ago.
The guy is 80 years old, there isn’t much to gain here. The dude likely has way less than 20 years left on the planet (if he is even in good health himself).
I think this is a guy who is old and has regrets.
The way I see it, there are 2 posibilities.
1) The guys is honest and would like to correct a mistake he made while he still has time.
2) since they have never met face to face before, it’s possible that the man is lying and is after Job’s wealth. It’s really easy to lie about yourself when on social networks, e-mails, etc.
But leave this to jobs.
Oh, I don’t know. Where has he been for the past 56 years? It seems rather strange that he would suddenly want to meet him. Either way, they are strangers. It would be no different for Steve if we sat down over coffee…… which by the way, I’m up for. I’ll even fly out. 🙂
I met my half brother for the first time last year I only knew he existed at all for 10 and never knew anything about him or where he was. That was great however if I had always known who and where he was and neither of us had bothered or felt compelled to contact each other I rather doubt that I would be looking to do so now.
It is not just now; this old man said he wants to meet Jobs decades ago.
However, he also said that he has some class to not trump on his sons’ feeling with his “foisting” of himself. He was saying he understands that if Steven never tried to contact him, then this means it is for the reason.
However, now the old man became desperate since Steven, unfortunately, hardly has much time left. And the father himself is 80 years old, he can die any day.
And since the old man was never poor (and not vice-president in casino business), this obviously has nothing to do with being opportunistic. If he was, then he would make more effort many decades earlier, not near to his own death as now.
However, Jobs is very principal and convinced in his decisions, so I am not sure if he will be able to change his mind about meeting with his father.
I’ll tell you one…maybe don’t reach out publicly through the blogosphere or whatever this old geez is doing. Yes, it sounds horribly opportunistic!
Uh… not really if you read that the guy is 80.
If true, that he only wants to meet Steve Jobs for one time. Imagine what is must appear to steve. I wish both the best outcome on this awkward moment.
Like the episode of The Simpsons where Abe learns that he gave up for adoption the successful child (Herb) and kept the dolt (Homer) instead. And the family’s name actually IS Simpson! As Bart would say, the ironing is delicious.
Steve Jobs was **PLACED** for adoption, not **GIVEN UP**.
Adoption is a wonderful thing for both the biological parents who, for whatever reason, do not feel they can adequately care for a child, as well as for parents who cannot have children on their own.
MDN, please help fight the negative perception of domestic adoption in the United States by changing your headline.
As for the content, Mr. Jandali has made his desire to meet his biological son known. Steve has to know of his desire. Let’s leave Steve alone and let him handle this privately—whether he chooses to reunite with Mr. Jandali or not.
Adoption is wonderful but i think the headline fits.
The father felt forced into the decision so to him he had to “give up” his child.
56 years ago the father in an unmarried child birth was seldom recognized in any way and granted few rights. It’s easy to see how he could have been steam-rolled out of the picture at the time. It’s easy to see most of the posters have never been old and never forced to give up contact with a child.
You can call it what you want, it really doesn’t change the fact that he was ‘given’ up for adoption. I was adopted and it sounds about ignorant for someone to say “placed” for adoption. The child isn’t going to feel any less abandoned.
uh, the child was “given up” for adoption, period. They made a choice. The headline is accurate.
dude mcfarland, I don’t think John had any say in the matter. Joanne’s father wouldn’t let them marry. She left for San Francisco to do what she thought was best for everyone. Back then the woman controlled what happened the children, the father had no (or at least little) input in the decision. Today, father’s can intervene in the adoption process.
gotwake, I am not fond of ‘placed’ either, but as an adoptee, I also don’t feel I was ‘given up’ either.
I think he should meet up… He has in the past made attempts to reach out to them even going as far as hiring a PI to find them. At the least there is no harm in coffee. He is an old man and what else could he really be asking for at 80 years old.
Johnny, Jeannie & Jimmy Buss, children of Laker’s owner Dr. Jerry Buss were friends of mine as kids BEFORE Jerry became wildly successful and wealthy. They moved off to Pacific Palisades; to a beautiful home that I visited a few times. But it was too far away to continue our childhood friendship. For the same reason Steve’s dad is claiming, I have never made an attempt to contact my old friend and his family after I’d grown up. I’ve always felt it would come off opportunistic. Too bad, Johnny and I used have a lot fun. Jeannie Buss was still a toddler in diapers before they moved away.
What I don’t understand is why now !!! Steve did not go hiding and he is all over place this past several years …
Why now? Because press accounts make it likely that Steve is dying.
The father has NOT ever approached Jobs, which supports his claim that he didn’t want to be opportunistic.
His comments now aren’t opportunistic, because he still hasn’t approached Jobs; a reporter contacted the father and asked a question. Should Steve’s father lie (“No, I don’t care about him”) to prevent amateur psychologists — like correctu, gotwake and Ross — from jumping to the conclusion that he’s being opportunistic?
If you read my thoughts on the matter more carefully, you’d see I have no stance on either side of the fence here, Thomas. Given your 3rd party view it’s very foolish to be so concrete in your beliefs. Therefore, your amateur psychology is more prone to inaccuracy than mine.
Well, you just readed: the guy is a vice-president of a Casino in Reno. I´ll bet he get a handfull amount of money every month. Not a rich fellow, but and acomodated one with a fat check every week. So, this is not your typical homeless without a future wishing to land a pocketfull rich relative for opportunity. Besides, at 80 you are past the wellfare bus stop, long ago. I don´t think at this stage in life he will be interested in million to spent on the french riviera.
People not being fathers themselves can avoid any remarks… They don’t know what all that can mean…
Having your own kids doesn’t give you a special pass to comment. Nobody knows this situation other than the people involved. The rest of us are equal in our outsider opinions.
That’s proof you don’t have kids. It really does change everything.
It’s pretty safe to say that Steve Jobs wouldn’t have been Steve Jobs without living the life he lead, and that includes being adopted.
Agreed.
well…maybe…but I’m not so sure…the butterfly affect can be very influential on both sides.
Agreed. Can you imagine a world in which SJs genius was expended in the casino industry?
I am adopted and in my thirties got to meet my biological parents. They too where forced to give me up but unlike Steve’s parents, they did not eventually get together. I wish all adopted children could have the opportunity to choose to meet the bio-parrents. If they choose to do so, it can be a wonderful thing. I agree with those who see the honesty involved in a parent wishing to just meet their child.
This is truly a sad story… I can’t imagine how hard it is for either of them
Going public with this request will probably just further alienate Steve.
This is a private family issue and should be dealt with privately.
Dry up. You have no freaking idea how he would react.
I agree wit cb1. You cannot speak for Jobs.
dab2, the key phrase in your comment is “if they choose to do so.” We need to be respectful Steve’s decision—to meet or not meet Mr. Jandali—and not create negative sentiment based on our own personal biases.
I am adopted, in my 40s, and have chosen not to meet my biological parents.
Absolutely correct! I chose my words carefully because I respect the fact that everybody has different needs and desires.
how about the interesting fact that he is half syrian
……..well that explains his eccentric looks at least
how about the interesting fact that he is half syrian… which means half arabic
being half syrian would mean being half Semitic.
He’s probably the only one who regrets it. The rest of us certainly don’t.
Another fascinating thread in the story of American immigration. Immigrant leaves the Old World (sparking family turmoil), comes to America and begets a son who changes the whole world.
I hope for the best on this reunion.
I hope both remain healthy for a long time and Steve, especially. Because, at his age, there is still quite a lot ahead of him that he could accomplish.
Syria is about 1/2 Christian, so it is unwise to assume that Steve is half Arabic. There are even Syrian Jews, Paula Abdul is one of them.
Are you kidding? Since when religions change racial origins. Don’t you know that arabic peuple are among the first Christians. Never dare to say to any christian Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian or Palestinian that he is not arabic!
Another one who thinks that arabic is synonym of muslim and all “barbarian” are white people!
Um, wrong. Not all of them are Arab Christians. There are all kinds of non-Arab Christians in these countries.
And Larry, wrong, Christians make up about 10% of Syrian population.
To Mr. Jandali,
I hope you get to meet your incredible son. I wish you both well and pray for a happy ending. There’s to few of those these days.
no snark on this one. if this is a true story I think it lends integrity to his feelings that either, he waited til now to make a statement or that we only hear about it now.
Quite frankly, I almost want to say things worked out just like they were supposed to.
Boomtown… not a meaga casino, but still….
Life takes many turns, some mundane, some wrenching yet it is all we have so we must make the turns while we still can.
Sad story, but something’s missing … Steve’s side of it. The realities may be completely different than ol’ “dad” asserts. Steve Jobs has likely not made contact for good reason. Good reason that we’ll never know because Steve Jobs never talks about his private life.
Never.
Move on.
Exactly what does this have to do with the Mac, Apple or computing in general?
People’s private lives should remain so.
I have an opinion on this topic, on the internets.