Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen leaves legacy of innovation & philanthropy

Allen died just two weeks after publicly revealing that the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he fought into remission nine years ago had returned.

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Paul Allen died at the age of 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He had revealed the disease's return only two weeks ago, after previously being treated for it in 2009. He had said he and his doctors were "optimistic" about treatment.

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Allen and his high school friend Gates founded Microsoft in 1975. Allen served as the company’s executive vice-president of research and new product development until 1983, when he left for health reasons. He stayed as a major shareholder and member of the board. Bill Gates in a statement said that he was heartbroken by the passing of one of his oldest and dearest friends.

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Allen used his large Microsoft earnings to invest in sports. Paul owned two professional sports teams: the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. Allan left an extensive and accomplished legacy in sports, as the Seahawks won their lone Super Bowl title during his tenure while the Trail Blazers made 23 playoff appearances and two NBA Finals appearances in his 30 years as owner. He also was a minority owner of MLS' Seattle Sounders FC.

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Aside from computing and sports, Paul Allen was part of the first private effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space. SpaceShipOne was launched in 2004 and won the Asari X Prize. Then in 2011, he was behind the launch of Stratolaunch Systems a space transportation venture.

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Paul Allen was also an electric guitarist. He built a recording studio on his yacht, and one of his bands, Paul Allen and the Underthinkers, released an album in 2013 featuring Mr Allen alongside performers such as Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and Joe Walsh of the Eagles.

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Allen invested hundreds of millions of dollars to research disease, artificial intelligence, and bioscience. He also contributed substantial funding to organizations working to fight the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. He established the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, along with a number of other institutions to showcase his collection of art, aircraft, computers, and memorabilia.