Computer Scientist Who Invented Cut, Copy, And Paste Has Passed Away Aged 74

Feb 20, 2020 by apost team

Larry Tesler, the man responsible for the most straightforward yet revolutionary innovation in computer science – cut, copy, and paste – died on Monday at the age of 74. 

Larry Tesler might not be a name as well known as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, but he was still one of the most important computer scientists of our time. Not only did he create the iconic “cut”, “copy”, and “paste” functions, but he also made major strides in his career working for xerox and later apple. 

Tesler was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1945. He attended Stanford University where he studied computer science before dabbing into the world of Artificial Intelligence. 

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Following his graduation, Tesler specialized in User Interface Design and eventually got a job at Xerox as a researcher. 

In 1980, he was poached by Steve Jobs and started working at Apple for 17 years where he eventually became Chief Scientist, before leaving to start his own education start-up.

"There's almost a rite of passage - after you've made some money, you don't just retire, you spend your time funding other companies,” Tesler told the BBC in 2012. 

"There's a very strong element of excitement, of being able to share what you've learned with the next generation."

In the wake of his passing, Xerox tweeted a tribute to their former employee: 

“The inventor of cut/copy & paste, find & replace, and more was former Xerox researcher Larry Tesler. Your workday is easier thanks to his revolutionary ideas. Larry passed away Monday, so please join us in celebrating him.”

Our condolences go out to the Tesler family.