Susan Wojcicki, a visionary tech executive and former CEO of YouTube, passed away August 9, 2024, at the age of 56. Renowned for her leadership in the tech world, Wojcicki maintained a lifelong connection to the University of California, Santa Cruz, which she credited with shaping her remarkable career.
Wojcicki earned her master’s degree in applied economics from UC Santa Cruz in 1993. During her two years on campus, she developed the quantitative skills in math, statistics, economics, and econometrics that propelled her career in high-tech. Reflecting on her time at UC Santa Cruz, Wojcicki often spoke of the “strong foundation in analytical thinking” that her studies on campus provided, which proved invaluable in her subsequent career. During her time on campus, she met her future husband, Dennis Troper (M.S. ‘93, applied economics).
“I am deeply saddened to hear of Susan Wojcicki's passing,” said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “She was a vibrant light in this world and an inspiration to me and countless others. All of us are better for having known her. My heart goes out to Dennis and her extended family. Her legacy will live on with all of us in the UC Santa Cruz community and worldwide.”
Wojcicki and Troper have been champions of student success at UC Santa Cruz. They generously provided scholarships to a cohort of first-generation undergraduate students, profoundly impacting their educational journeys at the university. Their philanthropy helped catalyze upward mobility, break generational barriers, and ignite a ripple effect of positive change throughout their families and society.
“Susan and Dennis have a deep commitment to fostering equity and access to education,” said Mark Delos Reyes Davis, Vice Chancellor of University Advancement. “All of us at UC Santa Cruz are deeply saddened to learn of Susan’s passing. We hope her family can find solace knowing that her legacy is reflected in these scholars’ success and leadership.”
Born and raised on the Stanford University campus, Wojcicki, the oldest of three daughters, was deeply influenced by her academic upbringing. Her father, Stanley Wojcicki, was a distinguished particle physicist and chaired Stanford’s Physics Department, while her mother, Esther Wojcicki, was a groundbreaking journalism educator and founder of Palo Alto High School’s Media Arts Program.
After graduating from Henry M. Gunn high school in Palo Alto, Wojcicki attended Harvard University, studying literature and history. In 1991, Wojcicki arrived at UC Santa Cruz, drawn by its proximity to Silicon Valley and its unique master’s program in economics.
Just five years after completing her master’s degree, Wojcicki made a decision that would change the course of her life – and the tech industry. When two Stanford students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, approached her about renting the garage in her Menlo Park home to start their company, she said yes. That garage would become the birthplace of Google.
In 1999, Wojcicki left her job at Intel to become Google’s first marketing manager, joining the company as employee number 16. Her impact was immediate and far-reaching. In 2006, she played a pivotal role in Google’s $1.65 billion acquisition of YouTube, transforming it into the world’s largest video-sharing platform. Wojcicki became CEO of YouTube in 2014, a position she held until stepping down in 2023.
Wojcicki is survived by husband Dennis, their children, sisters Anne and Janet, and mother Esther. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the tech world and an enduring connection to UC Santa Cruz.
