“After her passing on August 9th, her husband took to Facebook to express the immeasurable influence she had on both our family and the world.”
Susan Wojcicki, the esteemed former CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56.
Wojcicki passed away from lung cancer on Friday, August 9th, after battling the disease for two years, as announced by her husband, Dennis Troper, on Facebook.
“It is with deep sorrow that I convey the heartbreaking news of Susan Wojcicki’s passing,” he penned. “My cherished wife of 26 years and mother to our five children departed from us today after a valiant two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer.”
“Susan was not only my cherished best friend and life partner, but also a brilliant intellect, a devoted mother, and a cherished confidante to many. Her influence on our family and the world was truly profound. While we are devastated by her loss, we remain thankful for the precious moments we shared with her.”
“During this challenging time, we kindly ask for your thoughts and support for our family,” the post poignantly concluded. Wojcicki’s husband shared a heartfelt message alongside a collection of tender photos capturing moments with her and their children throughout the years.
In 2014, Wojcicki took on the role of CEO at YouTube and played a pivotal role in advancing and shaping the landscape of video-sharing in the realm of social media. Following almost a decade of leadership, she took the decision to step down from her position as CEO in February 2023.
YouTube CEO, Neal Mohan, shared heartfelt words about his predecessor at the company over X (formerly Twitter): “Today, @youtube mourns the loss of a valued teammate, a guiding mentor, and a dear friend, @SusanWojcicki. I was privileged to first meet Susan 17 years ago when she orchestrated the DoubleClick acquisition. Her influence and lasting impact resonate in every corner of @google and @youtube.”
“I am forever grateful for her friendship and guidance. I will miss her tremendously,” he added, before concluding his message by passing on his condolences to her family.
Wojcicki’s career began with Google in 1999, where she was one of only 16 employees. She went on to become the company’s inaugural marketing executive leading the expansion to Google Video in 2005, and overseeing the acquisition of YouTube for a whopping $1.65 billion in the subsequent year, according to reports from Variety.
During her time at Google, Wojcicki spearheaded the initial development of Google’s image search and oversaw the product management of Google Book Search and AdSense, as reported by the publication.
The CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, penned a heartfelt tribute on X, expressing his profound sorrow at the passing of his close companion, Susan Wojcicki. He lauded her as an essential figure in Google’s history, remarking on the difficulty of envisioning a world devoid of her presence. Describing her as an extraordinary individual, a visionary leader, and a cherished friend, Pichai emphasized her substantial influence on the world and acknowledged the positive impact she had on him personally, as well as countless other members of the Google community.
Wojcicki’s death comes six months after her 19-year-old son Marco Troper, died of a drug overdose at UC Berkeley in February.
Marco, a freshman student at the university, was found unresponsive in his residence hall room at Clark Kerr Campus, as stated by a school representative in an interview with PEOPLE magazine.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau in California later confirmed to PEOPLE that Marco’s cause of death was “acute combined drug toxicity.” A coroner investigator’s report acquired by PEOPLE detailed that he tragically experienced an accidental overdose due to elevated levels of alprazolam, cocaine, amphetamine, and hydroxyzine found in his system.
Wojcicki is fondly cherished by her husband Dennis and their four children, even though they continue to mourn the loss of Marco.
