 | RICHARD J. EGAN (Associated Press) |
Richard J. Egan, the billionaire cofounder of information storage giant
Mr. Egan was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in May, his family said in an e-mailed statement last night that announced his death.
He had also suffered from diabetes, emphysema, and high blood pressure.
“This is a great loss for our family and we are terribly saddened,’’ the statement said. “We ask that the media respect our family’s privacy at this difficult time.’’
The family’s statement included no further details.
The Associated Press reported his age as 73.
Launching the company in 1979 with a partner and only a handful of employees, Mr. Egan helped oversee EMC’s expansion into the state’s largest technology company.
EMC, a global leader in data-storage software and hardware for computers, grew to include sites from Massachusetts to Ireland, and from Colorado to France and Israel.
“The world lost a great man and a great leader today,’’ Joseph Tucci, EMC’s president, CEO, and chairman, said in a statement. “On behalf of more than 40,000 EMC employees from around the world, we extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Egan and the entire family.
“Thirty years ago this week, Dick founded EMC with his partner, Roger Marino. Dick’s vision became one of the world’s top technology companies, and his legacy will live on through the tens of thousands of lives he affected in so many positive ways.’’
Long active behind the scenes as a prominent Republican fund-raiser and through his donations to schools and other charities, Mr. Egan stepped out of the boardroom and into the spotlight when President George W. Bush appointed him US ambassador to Ireland in March 2001, a few days before St. Patrick’s Day.
“Dick Egan has experienced extraordinary success in the private sector and has a broad-based background,’’ Bush said in a statement announcing the appointment. “He is an ideal person to serve as ambassador to Ireland as we look forward to working even more closely with our Irish friends.’’
Paul Cellucci, the former Massachusetts governor who served as ambassador to Canada, called Mr. Egan a good friend whose support he appreciated.
“Dick Egan served his country with great honor and distinction as ambassador to Ireland,’’ Cellucci said in a statement. “More importantly, he was one of the finest and most entrepreneurial business leaders our state has seen for some time, creating tens of thousands of jobs and helping lead the Commonwealth’s economic recovery in the mid-1990s.’’
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