Steve Jobs' biological father wants to finally meet son

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Steve JobsÂ? biological father says he lives in hope that he'll have the opportunity to acquaint with his long-lost son, even if its just for one cup of coffee, but refuses to be the one to reach out to the Apple co-founder.

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The 80-year old Syrian immigrant Abdulfattah John Jandali revealed in an interview with the New York Post, following JobsÂ? resignation as CEO of Apple, that he regrets having given his son up for adoption 56 years ago.



Jandali, who was in a relationship with Joanne Simpson at the time, said he wanted to marry JobsÂ? biological mother but that her father opposed the marriage on account of his Syrian descent. Simpson had the baby in San Francisco, Â?without anyone knowing,Â? Jandali recollected. "She did not want to bring shame onto the family and thought [the adoption route] was the best for everyone."



Looking back on that decision, Jandali wonders whether Jobs Â?is aware of the fact that had it been my choice, I would have loved to have kept him,Â? and admitted that his girlfriend also had second doubts about the adoption, especially in the first few months after she granted custody to Mr and Mrs Jobs.



SimpsonÂ?s father then passed away almost immediately following JobsÂ?s adoption, which freed her to marry Jandali. They did, and went on to have a daughter, Mona, which was JandaliÂ?s only other child.



"If we had just held off for a few months, then we would have been able to raise Steve as our own, but sadly, that was not the case," Jandali said. "We often spoke of our son and how we both wished he was with us, especially when Joanne gave birth to Steve's sister, Mona. But nothing to do with Joanne and I was ever meant to be."



Jandali says he only discovered in recent years that his son, whom he never met before, turned out to become Apple's iconic leader. Despite sending Jobs emails on his birthday on several occasions, to this day the two have never spoken. And while Jandali wants to finally meet Jobs, he is waiting for the latter to make the first contact.



Steve Jobs (right) and biological father Abdulfattah John Jandali (left) have never met.



"This might sound strange, though, but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbeds, to pick up the phone to call him," he said. "Steve will have to do that, as the Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune."



"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," Jandali added.



As the Post points out, there's a striking resemblance between the two men: Â?both wear rimless glasses, both have grey hair receding in exactly the same place, and both have the same handsome swarthy features.Â? But unlike Jobs, who has for the past few years battled health issues believed to have stemmed from his bout with cancer, Â?his octogenarian father is a picture of health.Â?



Like Jobs, Jandali is also a successful executive. Despite turning 80, he still occupies a vice president position in a Reno casino and leads a very active life. He reportedly rises at 5 AM each day, goes to the gym and drives in his Jeep to the Boomtown Casino and hotel where he works six days a week.



In an attempt to support his son in some capacity, Jandali, who describes himself as a Â?computer dunce,Â? says he's purchased a Mac computer, iPhone and iPad.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 147
    banalltvbanalltv Posts: 238member
    That's a sad story, all of it.



    Pride won't be any consolation when it's too late. Make an effort.
  • Reply 2 of 147
    jd_in_sbjd_in_sb Posts: 1,600member
    The people that raise you are your parents. But it would be cool if the two met.
  • Reply 3 of 147
    tenobelltenobell Posts: 7,014member
    If nothing else, based on his negotiating skills he really is Steve's father.
  • Reply 4 of 147
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Sounds like a pathetic person. It is the father who should reach out to the son and not the other way around.



    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.
  • Reply 5 of 147
    Don't hold your breath Mr Jandali.
  • Reply 6 of 147
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jd_in_sb View Post


    The people that raise you are your parents. But it would be cool if the two met.



    in a strange way, jobs should be glad he was adopted, since that allowed him to live near cupertino and meet steve wozniak. If he lived elsewhere he might have never have gone to the same college and met the same people that allowed apple to be created.
  • Reply 7 of 147
    iguesssoiguessso Posts: 132member
    I'm pretty sure I'm Steve's brother. I'm waiting for him to call too.
  • Reply 8 of 147
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Sounds like a pathetic person. It is the father who should reach out to the son and not the other way around.



    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.



    It's cultural.
  • Reply 9 of 147
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Sounds like a pathetic person. It is the father who should reach out to the son and not the other way around.



    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.



    What a hateful, uninformed statement. Giving up a child for adoption is a helluva big distance away from "throw[ing] their babies in the trash can". In fact, it's pretty much the opposite. It's bringing a life into being, but giving that living thing, your own child, to someone else because you know you can't raise it. To me that's a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and *selfless* decision.
  • Reply 10 of 147
    Life is too short, too frail and too harsh. Absolutely ridiculous.
  • Reply 11 of 147
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    As the Post points out, there's a striking resemblance between the two men: “both wear rimless glasses, both have grey hair receding in exactly the same place, and both have the same handsome swarthy features...



    If not mistaken the genetic inheritance for pattern balding is from Steve's grandfather on his mother's side and not from the father's genes. I know there is some debate about the subject but I believe the scientific consensus still supports this hypothesis.



    Grey is usually used as the color of a horse in the USA although it is quite common in Europe to use the spelling grey for people as well. In this case I would have used gray.
  • Reply 12 of 147
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Simpson?s father then passed away almost immediately following Jobs?s adoption, which freed her to marry Jandali. They did, and went on to have a daughter, Mona, which was Jandali?s only other child..



    Mona wrote a book that became a movie. Seems talent doesn't fall far from the tree.



    Quote:

    "This might sound strange, though, but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbeds, to pick up the phone to call him," he said. "Steve will have to do that, as the Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune."



    "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," Jandali added.



    Sounds passive-aggressive to me.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.



    I don't think that's fair. There are too many circumstances to say that giving up your child is being selfish.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bonklers View Post


    in a strange way, jobs should be glad he was adopted, since that allowed him to live near cupertino and meet steve wozniak. If he lived elsewhere he might have never have gone to the same college and met the same people that allowed apple to be created.



    I think we're better for it, but is Steve?
  • Reply 13 of 147
    slurpyslurpy Posts: 5,382member
    Quote:

    In an attempt to support his son in some capacity, Jandali, who describes himself as a ?computer dunce,? says he's purchased a Mac computer, iPhone and iPad.



    I found this absolutely hilarious, it's like something right out of the Onion. 'Support his son in some capacity'? You mean the son who was the CEO of the most valuable company on Earth? Yeah, I'm sure he's profusely appreciative of your purchase- you and a few hundred million others. Maybe you could have been more 'supportive' by thinking of getting in touch before your son was on his deathbed dying of cancer.
  • Reply 14 of 147
    cescocesco Posts: 52member
    Sorry buddy you've been living in the US for over half your life, this "syrian culture" excuse doesn't hold water any longer just as the "italian culture" no longer applies to my parents who've been here in Canada since the 50's.

    Just pick up the f***ing phone and give the guy a call.
  • Reply 15 of 147
    see flatsee flat Posts: 145member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Sounds like a pathetic person. It is the father who should reach out to the son and not the other way around.



    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.



    You obviously know nothing about adoption, and how, it is sometimes the right thing to do for the new born. Once one of the parties has sent out an invitation to meet, it is always for the other to follow through. In this case, he has let his long given up child the knowledge he would like to meet him. If the son so decides, he can take the next step. This only makes sense as perhaps the child has no interest in meeting him.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jd_in_sb View Post


    The people that raise you are your parents. But it would be cool if the two met.



    He does not claim to be his parent. He is the biological father.
  • Reply 16 of 147
    pokepoke Posts: 506member
    The guy can't pick up the phone but he can talk to the media.
  • Reply 17 of 147
    dave k.dave k. Posts: 1,306member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Cesco View Post


    Sorry buddy you've been living in the US for over half your life, this "syrian culture" excuse doesn't hold water any longer just as the "italian culture" no longer applies to my parents who've been here in Canada since the 50's.

    Just pick up the f***ing phone and give the guy a call.



    What makes you think he has his phone number? Perhaps that is why he is waiting for Jobs to call him...
  • Reply 18 of 147
    tylerdtylerd Posts: 33member
    Interestingly, Homer's mother, Mona, get's her name from the real-life sister of Steve Jobs: Mona E. Simpson - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_E._Simpson



    It's also interesting that Steve has met his sister, but never his father. Seems that there may be more to this story than meets the eye.
  • Reply 18 of 147
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dave K. View Post


    What makes you think he has his phone number? Perhaps that is why he is waiting for Jobs to call him...



    Just call 1-800-MY-APPLE and stay on the line.............................................. ................... .................................................. .................................................. for a long, long time. It might work.
  • Reply 20 of 147
    kerrybkerryb Posts: 270member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Sounds like a pathetic person. It is the father who should reach out to the son and not the other way around.



    I also think that people who adopt their babies away are only one step above people who throw their babies in the trash can and they have zero right to ever meet their offspring which they abandoned.



    The world was a very different place in the 1950's. Steve's (adoptive parents) are sure were thrilled when they got the chance to adopt infant Steve. We have no way of knowing if Steve was raised by his biological parents if he would have been the creator of Apple. What influence and interest he may have pursued and we would literally be living in a different world now. I am not a fatalist but it is fascinating to think about decision we make sometime daily that have an impact on our lives and others.
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