News

Bill Gates Loses Father, William Gates, 94

Bill Gates Sr., father of Microsoft Inc. founder Bill Gates, speaks during an interview with Bill Gates at the dedication ceremony of the United Way Worldwide Mary M. Gates Learning Center in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. Covering two stories with over 8,000 square feet of meeting space, the learning center offers options for United Way and community leaders to come together to discuss shared goals and challenges. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

William Henry Gates, the father of billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates is dead.

William Henry Gates II died this week aged 94.

The cause of his death was Alzheimer’s disease, his family said on Tuesday.

Gates senior was an Army veteran and a founding partner in a Seattle law firm, according his official biography.

“We will miss him more than we can express right now. We are feeling grief but also gratitude”, said the Microsoft billionaire, 64, while announcing the passing of his father in a post published on his blog Tuesday. “His wisdom, generosity, empathy, and humility had a huge influence on people around the world”.

In the tribute, Bill reflected on his father’s influence on his life, sharing that he and his sisters were “very lucky” to have parents who “gave us constant encouragement and were always patient with us.”

He said his father was critical in starting the charitable organisation he co-founded with his wife, Melinda, that has been Bill’s central focus since he stepped away from running Microsoft.

“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would not be what it is today without my dad,” Bill said.