Beloved creator of the GIF dies following complications from COVIDIn the weeks leading up to March 1, Kathaleen said, Steve could be found in his model-train room tinkering with his creations and computer programming, one of his constants in life, which led to the creation of the GIF file format in 1987 while he was at CompuServe.
"I think the first GIF was a picture of a plane. It was a long time ago," Steve told the Daily Dot in a rare interview via Facebook in May 2012.
The compressed format of the GIF allowed slow modem connections of the 1980s to transfer images more efficiently.
Worked with code, interested in model railroading and aircraft; I knew there was a reason he was a good man!
More info/details (edited link) BTW, he said the pronunciation is the same as the peanut butter: "JIF"