Mrs. Steve Jobs is reminded of the apple of her eye everywhere she goes.
Laurene Powell Jobs, like most Americans, sees Apple products all around her. Every time someone watches a video on an iPad or texts a loved one with an iPhone, she thinks of her late husband.
“Steve has a public legacy and a private legacy,” she said. “In the public we see the products that he created, that he cared so deeply about that changed all of our lives — the way that we function and communicate.”
Jobs was married to the revolutionary computer whiz for more than 20 years, and the couple raised three children. She broke her silence for the first time since Steve’s untimely death in 2011 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 in an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams that aired Friday night.
Before the cameras started rolling, Jobs explained that she will never discuss her husband’s passing publicly, calling it a personal family matter. She was pleased, however, to look back on how much he changed our world.
“What he wanted to do with his life was create tools that allowed people to work at the highest levels, and I think he did that. So that legacy is beautiful for me to live with,” she said.
She comes face to face with her husband’s profound impact every time she calls a friend or listens to music, but she does not lament the omnipresent mementos.
“Having the body of work surrounding us is actually a really beautiful reminder,” she said, “and I find it touching and inspiring for me to make sure that I continue to do what I’m most passionate about, and I hope my kids feel the same way.”
Jobs shares her late husband’s desire for privacy but uncharacteristically decided to speak out in favor of a political cause: immigration reform. She created a documentary on the subject called “The Dream Is Now” with filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, director of “Waiting for ‘Superman'” and “An Inconvenient Truth.”
As Jobs continues to advocate for immigration reform, Apple products will no doubt appear at rallies and meeting, calling to mind all Steve accomplished.
“To do what you want to do, to leave a mark that you think is important and lasting, that’s a life well lived.”
mwalsh@nydailynews.com
