In an interview with the New York Post, Steve Jobs' biological father, Abdulfattah John Jandali, 80, admitted he'd like to reunite with his famous son before it's too late.  Just one problem.  Neither wants to speak to the other. 

"This might sound strange, though, but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbeds, to pick up the phone to call him," said Jandali.

"Steve will have to do that, as the Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune," he notes.

Despite Jandali's own accomplishments - vice president of a Reno casino - he is fearful that given his age, and Jobs' own health woes, that time is running out to make amends.

"Now I just live in hope that, before it is too late, he will reach out to me, because even to have just one coffee with him just once would make me a very happy man," Jandali said.

In 1955, Jandali's girlfriend Joanne Simpson became pregnant, and even though Jandali wanted to marry her, he said her family prohibited it.

"I was very much in love with Joanne," he says.  "But sadly, her father was a tyrant, and forbade her to marry me, as I was from Syria.  And so she told me she wanted to give the baby up for adoption."

Jandali had no idea when Steve was actually born.

"Without telling me, Joanne upped and left to move to San Francisco to have the baby without anyone knowing, including me," he notes.  "She did not want to bring shame onto the family and thought this was the best for everyone."

Jandali also noted that he would have preferred to keep the baby, but respected Joanne's wishes.

"I honestly do not know to this day if Steve is aware of the fact that had it been my choice, I would have loved to have kept him," he said.  "I think after we got back together, Joanne had second thoughts about adoption, but by then, there was nothing we could do about it.

Jandali would eventually take the family to Syria, but Simpson became unhappy there and left with Mona, 4, and returned to the United States.

Despite having never called his son, Jandali has emailed Steve on several occasions for his birthday. 

"I can't remember exactly what I wrote in them," he says.  "But I know they were very short and to the point.  I would wish him 'Happy Birthday' and continued good health, and sign them with my name, and not 'dad.'"  The reason?  It would be out of respect for the adoptive parents.

"Because I really am not his dad.  Mr. and Mrs. Jobs are, as they raised him.  And I don't want to take their place.  I just would like to get to know this amazing man I helped in a very small way to produce."

Even though Jandali describes himself as a "computer dunce," he does own a Mac computer, iPhone and iPad, feeling that in doing so, he's able to support his son in a small way.

"I honestly look at these things and cannot believe Steve created them," he said.

Follow this article's author, Matthew Tilmann on Twitter

(Image courtesy of basicthinking.de)