Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Dies After 2-Year-Long Battle With Cancer, Sundar Pichai Pays Tribute: ‘I’m One Of Countless Googlers Who Is Better For Knowing Her’ (Updated)

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with more details.

The tech industry is reeling from the departure of Susan Wojcicki, the former luminary at YouTube, who has lost her battle with cancer. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences, notably from Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc.

The Circumstances: Dennis Troper, Wojcicki’s husband, shared the news of her demise in a poignant Facebook post. He expressed profound grief over losing his partner of 26 years and the mother of their five children.

“My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after 2 years of living with non-small cell lung cancer,” he solemnly stated, accompanying the tribute with images of the esteemed former leader of YouTube.

Themes of Resilience: In the wake of this loss, Pichai turned to X, formerly known as Twitter, to eulogize Wojcicki as an indelible part of Google’s narrative. “I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for knowing her. We will miss her dearly,” he shared.

Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend @SusanWojcicki after two years of living with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her. She was an incredible person, leader and friend who had a tremendous…

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) August 10, 2024

The Impact: The untimely passing of Wojcicki has left a palpable void in the tech sector and her family, who had already weathered tragedy earlier this year. In February, Marco Troper, Wojcicki’s 19-year-old son, was tragically found deceased in his UC Berkeley dorm, reportedly due to a drug overdose.

Wojcicki concluded her tenure as YouTube CEO in February 2023 after nearly a decade at the helm. She handed over the reins to Neal Mohan. Notably, she played a pivotal role during Google’s nascent years by offering her parents’ garage to Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, the birthplace of the tech behemoth.

She joined Google shortly after as its 16th employee, dedicating 25 years to the company.

Reflecting Forward: The legacy of Susan Wojcicki shall endure, leaving an indelible mark on technology and those she touched. Her contributions and spirit will be remembered in the annals of Silicon Valley history.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia