Steve Jobs Did Meet His Biological Father, Albeit Unknowingly

Abdulfattah John Jandali, Steve Jobs' biological father who gave him up for adoption soon after his birth, met his world-famous son without realizing they shared an intimate blood relationship.

According to the interviews Jobs gave Walter Isaacson, the author of his official biography (which were broadcast on CBS on Sunday evening), Jandali, 80, a Syrian-American Muslim, an ex-political science professor and now vice president of the Boomtown Hotel Casino in Reno, Nev., once lived near Apple's headquarters in California.

Jandali used to run a restaurant which was frequented by Jobs, and on one such visit; they met for a casual chat, completely unaware of their relationship. Jobs' biological sister and Jandali's daughter, novelist Mona Simpson, upon learning of the encounter, told Jobs the restaurant owner was his father.

When I was looking for my biological mother, obviously I was looking for my biological father at the same time, Jobs told Isaacson, I learned a little bit about him, and I didn't like what I learned.

It turns out he managed or owned a restaurant, and I was in the restaurant once or twice, and I remember meeting the owner, who was from Syria. I shook his hand, and he shook mine, he added.

Issacson said Jandali discussed his restaurant business with his daughter Simpson and during one such talk he said, Everyone used to eat there. Even Steve Jobs.

As Simpson stayed silent but looked shocked, Jandali added, 'Yeah, he was a great tipper!' said Isaacson.

Jandali, a political science student from Homs, Syria, and Joanne Carole Schieble, an American graduate student, were unmarried when Jobs was born in 1955. The baby was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, Calif., who named him Steven Paul.

Jobs, however, did not try to meet his father even after the latter's public request for a reunion during a tell-all interview with The Sun. According to reports, Jandali regretted giving that interview and told the Reno Gazette-Journal in September that he would not publicly discuss his son again.

When Job's illness - a rare form of pancreatic disorder - was made public, Jandali mailed him his medical history in hopes it would help his treatment. Even though Jandali was desperate to meet his son, he said his Syrian pride stopped him from reaching out to Jobs himself.

This might sound strange, though, but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbed, to pick up the phone to call him, Jandali told the Sun, Steve will have to do that as the Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune. I am not. I have my own money. What I don't have is my son ... and that saddens me.

Jandali and Joanne were married 10 months after giving Jobs up for adoption. The couple then gave birth to and raised Jobs' biological sister, Mona Simpson.