Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, who was one of the first employees at Google, passed away Friday aged 56 following a two-year battle with cancer.
The pioneering female tech boss’ death was announced by her husband Dennis Troper, who paid tribute to her ‘brilliant mind’ in a heartfelt post on Facebook.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said Wojcicki had been living with cancer for two years, as he said it is ‘hard to imagine the world without her.’
Wojcicki’s death comes just months after her son Marco Troper died from a drug overdose.
Mother Susan was Google’s inaugural marketing manager in 1999 before being appointed CEO of YouTube in 2014
Wojcicki became a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, primarily during her nine years at the helm of YouTube.
Earlier in her career, Wojcicki was credited with pushing Google executives to buy YouTube.
She was announced as CEO in 2014, and was named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world the following year.
She stepped down from the company in early 2023, saying she ‘decided to start a new chapter focused on my family, health and personal projects I’m passionate about.’
Wojcicki and her husband Dennis Troper shared five children together
In his post sharing the news of his wife’s death, Troper said Wojcicki was ‘not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, loving mother, and a dear friend to many.’
‘Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken, but grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in your thoughts at this time.’
Wojcicki was also known as one of the first 20 employees of Google, which purchased YouTube in 2006 for $1.6 billion.
In his post on her death, Pichai said Wojcicki was ‘as core to the history of Google s anyone.’
‘She was an incredible person, leader and friend who had a tremendous impact on the world and I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for knowing her,’ he wrote.
Wojcicki’s death comes just months after her son Marco Troper died from a drug overdose
‘We will miss her dearly. Our thoughts with her family. RIP Susan.’
Wojcicki and her husband Dennis Troper shared five children together, however their family experienced tragedy earlier this year when their son Marco was found dead.
Marco died inside a University of California, Berkely dorm room, of a suspected overdose, at 19 years old.
His grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, confirmed his death in a Facebook post shared in February.
‘Tragedy hit my family yesterday My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension,’ Esther Wojcicki wrote.
An autopsy report found high concentrations of cocaine, amphetamine and Xanax in his system at the time of death.
The report also stated that Marco suffered from ‘chronic substance abuse’ and fractured his right wrist two weeks before his death.