Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and a long-time executive at Google, passed away on Friday, August 9, at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with lung cancer.
In a Facebook post, her husband, Dennis Troper, shared the news with deep sorrow, stating, “It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of Susan Wojcicki, my beloved wife of 26 years and mother of our five children, who left us today after living with non-small cell lung cancer for the past two years.”
Wojcicki, a prominent figure in technology, joined Google in 1999 as one of its earliest employees, well before it acquired YouTube. She served as YouTube’s CEO for nine years and was instrumental in the company’s success.
In February 2023, Wojcicki stepped down from her role at YouTube after 25 years with Alphabet/Google to focus on her family, health, and personal projects.
Wojcicki and Troper, who married in 1998, had five children. Earlier this year, in February, their son Marco Troper was found deceased in his University of California, Berkeley dorm room. The 19-year-old’s death was attributed to a mix of alprazolam (an anti-anxiety drug), cocaine, amphetamine, hydroxyzine (an antihistamine), and low levels of THC, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai paid tribute to Wojcicki, calling her an “incredible leader” who was central to Google’s history. “I am unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend Susan Wojcicki after her two-year battle with cancer,” Pichai wrote on X. “She was a pivotal figure at Google, and it’s hard to envision the company without her.”
Pichai also noted in a blog post, “Even while facing immense personal challenges, Susan continued to dedicate herself to making the world a better place through her philanthropy, including support for research into the disease that ultimately took her life.”
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan honored his predecessor on Saturday, August 10, saying, “Today, we @youtube lost a teammate, mentor, and friend, @SusanWojcicki. I had the privilege of meeting Susan 17 years ago when she was instrumental in the DoubleClick acquisition. Her legacy is evident in everything she touched at @google and @youtube. I am deeply grateful for her friendship and guidance. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.”
