FOREVER INSPIRING

We honor the legacy of our co-founder, Earl Bakken, who passed away in Hawaii.

Remembering Earl
Below is a selection of excerpts from the countless messages we’ve received from patients, providers, employees, and friends of Earl.

Earl was inspired by his dreams. By following them, he improved the lives of millions of people, built a major corporation and established an entire industry. We will continue to pay tribute to Earl by bringing our Mission to life for millions of people around the world every day.
-Omar Ishrak, Chairman and CEO, Medtronic

**Medtronic Chairman and CEO Omar Ishrak and Earl Bakken**

The Medtronic medallion that sits on my desk, presented to me by Earl himself, has always been my inspiration and motivation to do my best to serve the Mission.
-Choon Bee Zahn, Medtronic Employee

Next to my father, no one has influenced my life’s work to humanize the delivery of medicine more than Earl Bakken. He was an inspiration, enriching the lives of others around the world. He will be greatly missed.
-Bridget Duffy, MD

Because of you and your humanity, I have been able to experience the world and her experiences, in return offering her my own. I will continue to be a voice for the voiceless.
-Austin Pinkerton, Diabetes Patient

A true pioneer, Earl leaves us with many gifts including our Mission. It is one of the great honors of my career to be the steward of Tenets 5 and 6 – to recognize the personal worth of employees and maintain good citizenship as a company. Earl's legacy lives on through the thoughts and actions of 86,000+ employees living the Mission each and every day.
-Carol Surface, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, Medtronic

**Former Medtronic Chairman and CEO Bill Hawkins and Earl Bakken**

Earl was an inspiration to all aspiring entrepreneurs... His passion for innovation, his commitment to the Mission and his focus on the patient helped him build a company. He wrote a 100-year plan that he nearly saw to the end, one that survives us all and is still today the roadmap of Medtronic’s success.
-Bill Hawkins, Former Chairman and CEO, Medtronic

**The Garage Gang**

Standing: Dale Blosberg, Norman Hagfors, Earl Hatten. Seated: John Bravis, Earl Bakken, Louis Leisch

Earl was always a role model to me as a respected and a wise leader in the medical community, his business ethics, and spirituality. I am privileged to have known and worked for him.
-Dale Blosberg, Retired Employee, Member of the Original "Garage Gang"

**Former Medtronic Chairman and CEO Art Collins and Earl Bakken**

Earl Bakken will go down in history as a bona fide legend in the medical technology industry. He also was a visionary, a very generous philanthropist, and a truly unique human being who directly or indirectly positively touched tens of millions of lives around the world.
-Art Collins, Former Chairman and CEO, Medtronic

Because of his vision and desire to help humankind, #EarlBakken helped save my life before I was born. The #medtech he developed for the #pacemaker made way for the #ICD that’s lived in my chest for 21 years. I will #LiveOnGiveOnDreamOn with my #ExtraLife. #alohamauloa
-Carrie Romero, Heart Patient

Thanks to Earl Bakken, millions of people can live an extra life. I will forever remain touched by his spirit of living on and giving on. Thank you for all you've given us.
-Karla Altmayer, Bakken Invitation Honoree

**Earl with Bakken Invitation recipients**

**Former Medtronic Chairman and CEO Bill George and Earl Bakken**

Earl was a true visionary, inventor of the pacemaker, and pioneered the entire field of medical technology. Earl always believed in healing the whole person: mind, body and spirit...His legacy lives through the Medtronic Mission and the tens of millions of people whose lives are being restored by Medtronic products.
-Bill George, Former Chairman and CEO, Medtronic

I knew after the first few months that this was the company I was meant to work for because of the atmosphere of caring and shared accomplishment. I will forever be grateful for being part of the Medtronic family.
-Becky Carlson, Medtronic Retiree

VIEW ADDITIONAL MEMORIES AND PHOTOS

Honoring EARL

Funds donated benefit non-profit organizations of special importance to Earl.

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