Mar 18 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Jerome B. York, who was best known as Jerry York, was hospitalized yesterday after collapsing in his home in Detroit. He passed away On March 18, today at the age of 71.

Born in Memphis Tennessee, in 1938, York earned his degrees from the United States Military Academy and received an MS from the Massachusetts Insitute of Technology. He worked as the CFO of Crysler, and IBM. He also worked as a special advisor to investor Kirk Kerkorian during Kerkorian’s 2007 failed takeover bid for Chrysler. He resigned from Generla Motors in 2006 due to his frustration over the fact that GM would not implement change recommendations, such as getting rid of Pontiac, Hummer, and Saturn. GM later had to shed these brands during their bankruptcy.

He joined the Board of Directors for Apple in 1997, and was the president and CEO of Harwinton Capital. “Jerry joined Apple’s Board in 1997 when most doubted the company’s future. He has been a pillar of financial and business expertise and insight on our Board for over a dozen years,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “It’s been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I’m going to miss him a lot.”