August 22, 2023
Dr. John Warnock, co-founder of Adobe is dead. He died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 82.
After meeting as coworkers at Xerox, Warnock and Dr. Charles Geschke co-founded Adobe in 1982. Adobe PostScript was their initial product, and it was innovative technology that ignited the desktop publishing revolution.
Adobe Chair and CEO Shantanu Narayen describes Warnock as a visionary leader who helped to shape the modern world of computing. Shantanu adds that Warnock’s innovations have had a profound impact on how we communicate, create, and share information. He describes him as a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Warnock and Geschke co-founded Adobe, turning it into a major software brand. Warnock served as president and CEO, retiring in 2000 and 2001 respectively. He was chairman until 2017, and remained on the board until August 2023.
Previously, he worked at Xerox, Evans & Sutherland, and IBM. He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, holds advanced degrees in engineering and math from the University of Utah, and won other tech awards. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Warnock is survived by his wife, Marva, and three children.
The sources for this piece include an article in Adobe.
