EMC co-founder Richard Egan passed away on Friday amid reports he was suffering from a myriad of health problems. Egan, 73, had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year and also reportedly dealing with emphysema, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Egan, the "E" in EMC Corp., co-founded EMC with Roger Marino in 30 years ago this week, who was the "M." He stepped down as chairman of the company in 2001 after accepting the position of ambassador to Ireland. He resigned from that job in 2002. Egan was politically active in the Boston area, mostly supporting Republican candidates, including former president George W. Bush.

Reports in the Boston Globe and other New England news outlets said that Egan committed suicide in his Boston area home.

Egan served in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot before obtaining a bachelors of science degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University in 1961. He worked at Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Lockheed Electronics, Cambridge Memories and Intel before founding EMC with Marino in 1979.

Joseph M. Tucci, EMC's Chairman, President and CEO, said in a statement, "The world has lost a great man and a great leader. On behalf of more than 40,000 EMC employees from around the world, we extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Egan and the entire family."

Michael C. Ruettgers, retired EMC chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement, "I personally learned a great deal from working with him and always enjoyed our working relationship. He will be deeply missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to know him and call him a friend."