by COLLEEN CURRY
In the wake of Steve Jobs’ resignation as Apple CEO last week, the billionaire’s biological father has told media outlets that he regrets giving up his son for adoption some 50 years ago.
Abdulfattah John Jandali, a Syrian immigrant who now works as a vice president at a casino in a Reno, Nev., was quoted by the New York Post as saying he didn’t know until just a few years ago that the baby he and his ex-wife, Joanne Simpson, gave up grew to be Apple’s CEO. Jandali has emailed his son a few times, he said, but did not call Jobs for fear that he would think Jandali was after his fortune.
Jandali told the Post that had it been his choice, he would have kept the baby. But Simpson’s father did not approve of her marrying a Syrian, so she moved to San Francisco to have the baby alone and give him up for adoption.
Jandali said he hoped Jobs would call him some day, and would be happy for the two just to get a cup of coffee together once before it’s too late. Jandali is 80, and Jobs has been in declining health.
Jandali did not immediately return calls for comment from ABC News.
The Private World of Steve Jobs
Though he was one of the world’s most famous CEOs, Steve Jobs has remained stubbornly private about his personal life, ignoring the media and the public’s thirst for knowledge about his inner life ever since he co-founded Apple Computer in 1976.
ABC for more
(Thanks to Mansoor Gowani)