BERKELEY, California – Marco Troper, the son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was discovered dead in his dorm at the University of California, Berkeley, according to local officials and the student’s family.
Troper, 19, was found unresponsive on campus last week and was later confirmed to have passed away on February 13. The Alameda County Coroner’s Office reported that they were handling the autopsy, while the cause and manner of death were pending as of Monday.
Esther Wojcicki, an American journalist, confirmed her grandson’s death in a Facebook post, expressing her devastation over the tragic loss. The University of California Police Department responded to the housing complex at Clark Kerr residence hall, where Troper resided, and the Berkeley Fire Department attempted “life-saving measures” but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troper, described as a math major, was remembered by his grandmother as a kind, loving, smart, fun, and beautiful human being. She expressed her sorrow over the missed opportunities and life experiences that he and everyone who loved him would miss. Funeral arrangements have not been made available at this time.
The University of California, Berkeley is located in the city of Berkeley in Alameda County, within San Francisco’s Bay Area. Wojcicki worked for YouTube from 2014 to 2023, and the American-founded online video sharing and social media platform is owned by Google. No foul play is suspected, and the student’s death remains under investigation by police.
This heartbreaking loss has undoubtedly left Troper’s family, friends, and community in mourning, and the circumstances surrounding his passing continue to shock and sadden those who knew him.