Amazon's first CFO dies in bicycle accident

The tech entrepreneur who was in charge of the online retailer's massive expansion and masterminded its IPO has passed away at the age of 50. Joy Covey died in a bicycle accident last Wednesday, when she collided with a van in the San Mateo County.

She was instrumental in making the massive e-commerce company what it is today. Amazon spokesperson Mary Osako said "It's a very sad day for Amazon, Joy was a wonderful human being and treasured colleague, and we will miss her very much." She has been working as a treasurer for a environmental group and also in the tech sector. She got into the tech sector by using her quick intellect and determined work ethic. She dropped out of high school at 15, then left home to become a grocery clerk and shortly after went to Fresno State. At Fresno State, she graduated in two and half years, then went to Harvard to get a duel law and MBA degrees. At Amazon she was CFO of digital-audio startup Digidesign, where she oversaw the company's financial boom. She also masterminded the company's initial public offering in 1997. She left Amazon in April 2000 to focus on her family, travel, and environmental issues. Saying all of this about Joy Covey, She will be missed by Amazon and seems like a wonderful person to be around.