The tragic death of Marco Troper, the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, has deeply shaken the University of California, Berkeley community.
Troper, a student residing at the Clark Kerr Campus, was found unresponsive on Tuesday afternoon. Despite efforts by the Berkeley Fire Department to revive him, he was pronounced dead upon the arrival of campus police.
Troper’s grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, shared the heartbreaking news of his passing on Facebook, describing him as a kind, loving, smart, fun, and beautiful human being.
She expressed the family’s devastation at the loss, noting that Troper had been just beginning his second semester of freshman year at UC Berkeley, where he was majoring in math and thoroughly enjoying his studies. Esther Wojcicki mentioned that Troper had a vibrant community of friends from both his dorm and fraternity.
The circumstances surrounding Troper’s death remain under investigation, with UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore stating that there were no signs of foul play.
Esther Wojcicki, however, told SF Gate that she believes her grandson died from a drug overdose, emphasizing the need to raise awareness about drug misuse to prevent similar tragedies from occurring to other families. The family is awaiting the results of a toxicology report to confirm the cause of death.
The loss of Marco Troper has left his family, friends, and the UC Berkeley community devastated, with Esther Wojcicki expressing deep sorrow over the missed opportunities and life experiences that he will never have. She described Troper as having a bright future ahead of him and emphasized the love and affection that everyone had for him.
As the investigation into Marco Troper’s death continues, the community is coming together to mourn his loss and remember the impact he had on those around him. The family’s plea to prevent similar tragedies serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing drug misuse and its consequences.