Jerry York: 1938-2010

Jerome P. “Jerry” York, 71, died this morning, the victim of a brain aneurysm. His passing was announced by Apple Inc. York had been a member of the Apple board of directors since 1997.

“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, in announcing York’s death. “It’s been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I’m going to miss him a lot.”

York was rushed by ambulance to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital yesterday after he collapsed in his Rochester, Michigan, home. York’s wife said doctors found York, Chrysler’s chief financial officer in the Iacocca days, had suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and was in critical condition.

Jerry York came to Chrysler from Ford in 1979 and spent 14 years with the company before Lou Gerstner tapped him for the CFO position at IBM. York is most recently known for being Kirk Kerkorian’s front man in the billionaire’s dealings with General Motors, serving on the GM board from February to October 2006. He also advised Kerkorian on the failed attempt to take over Chrysler in 2007.

York was born in Memphis, Tennessee, A West Point graduate with a MS from MIT and a MBA from the University of Michigan, York has been CEO of Harwinton Capital since 2000.

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