Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer and celebrated author, posted a moving tribute to her husband, Dave Goldberg, Survey Monkey CEO, who died unexpectedly on Friday.
Goldberg reportedly died of head trauma after an accident that occurred while he was exercising on Friday night. Goldberg, who was 47, was holidaying with family and friends on a private resort in Mexico at the time. The power couple were married for 11 years and have two children. Goldberg’s brother announced news of the death via a Facebook update on Saturday.
In her poignant tribute posted to Facebook yesterday, Sandberg thanked friends and family for the outpouring of love she has received, and recalled beautiful memories of the man she called her "rock."
She writes, "We had 11 truly joyful years of the deepest love, happiest marriage, and truest partnership that I could imagine … He gave me the experience of being deeply understood, truly supported and completely and utterly loved – and I will carry that with me always. Most importantly, he gave me the two most amazing children in the world."
Sandberg also recalled her times going to temple with her husband. "I met Dave nearly 20 years ago when I first moved to LA. He became my best friend. He showed me the Internet for the first time, planned fun outings, took me to temple for the Jewish holidays, introduced me to much cooler music than I had ever heard." Both Sandberg and Goldberg are Jewish.
As news spread of his death, friends and family — many of them leaders in entertainment, tech and politics — took to social media to remember their friend and colleague.
President Barack Obama posted a touching condolence on Facebook yesterday, “David Goldberg embodied the definition of a real leader – someone who was always looking for ways to empower others. He was generous and kind with everybody, and cared less about the limelight than making sure that the people he worked with and loved succeeded in whatever they did … We’re heartbroken by him leaving us far too soon – but we celebrate a remarkable legacy.”
A private memorial ceremony was held at Stanford Memorial Auditorium to celebrate Goldberg’s life yesterday.
"As we put the love of my life to rest today, we buried only his body. His spirit, his soul, his amazing ability to give is still with it. It lives on in the stories people are sharing of how he touched their lives, in the love that is visible in the eyes of our family and friends, in the spirit and resilience of our children. Things will never be the same – but the world is better for the years my beloved husband lived," Sandberg wrote on Facebook.
