Former YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki dies of cancer at age 56

A well-known former power player in the tech industry passed away on Friday, leaving family, friends, and colleagues to mourn her departure at a relatively young age.

The former head of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki, who also broke ground as one of Google's very first employees, died at the age of 56, reportedly two years after receiving a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer, as CBS News reports.

Tech pioneer loses cancer fight

Wojcicki's passing was announced by her husband, Dennis Troper, in a heartfelt post on social media.

“It is with profound sadness that I share the news of Susan Wojcicki passing,” Troper began.

He continued, “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.”

“Susan was not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable,” Troper went on.

Tragically, Wojcicki's death came just months after the passing her 19-year-old son, Marco Troper, of an accidental drug overdose on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley, as USA Today noted.

Tributes pour in

Current YouTube CEO Neal Mohan was among those in the tech world who weighed in with words of praise for Wojcicki amid news of her death.

“I had the good fortune of meeting Susan 17 years ago...I am forever grateful for her friendship and guidance,” Mohan said, adding, “I will miss her tremendously.

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai expressed that he was “unbelievably saddened” by Wojcicki's passing, noting that “she is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it's hard to imagine the world without her.”

Pichai remembered Wojcicki as “an incredible person, leader and friend” and added his name to the list of “countless Googlers who is better for knowing her.”

In the post announcing his beloved wife's death, Troper asked that those who loved her keep the grieving family in their thoughts as they navigate life's new landscape, and given the glowing recollections offered by so many over the weekend, that is precisely what is happening.