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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Google Mentor Dead in Freak Swimming Accident

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(Newser) – A Stanford computer science professor who mentored Google's founders has drowned in his swimming pool, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Rajeev Motwani, 47, who could not swim, drowned at his Atherton, Calif., home, leaving a wife, two daughters, and many admirers in Silicon Valley. “It's a rare combination to have somebody who is so smart and also such a nice guy,” said Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Born in India, Motwani earned a doctorate at University of California-Berkeley before teaching at Stanford. Known as a friendly adviser to hundreds of students, he developed data-mining techniques that paved the way for e-commerce and search engines. "People, when they speak to him, soon their vague and fuzzy ideas get transformed into crisp articulations," said a fellow Stanford prof. "It's a rare gift."

This photo shows Google cofounders Sergey Brin, left, and Larry Page, right.
This photo shows Google cofounders Sergey Brin, left, and Larry Page, right. "Of all the faculty at Stanford, it is with Rajeev that I have stayed the closest and I will miss him dearly," Brin says.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
A Stanford student looks at employment brochures on display at the career center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
A Stanford student looks at employment brochures on display at the career center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen. Rajeev Motwani was a professor of Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen. Rajeev Motwani was a professor of Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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Ron Conway pays tribute To Rajeev Motwani.   (techcrunch)

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He enabled things. He brought out the best in people, not by yanking at them, but things just came out. It was a little bit more magical an experience. - Stanford professor Balaji Prabhakar

He's a great example on how the Silicon Valley ecosystem works, which is why everyone is so upset at this tragedy. - friend Ron Conway

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9 comments
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Observer
Jun 7, 09 5:50 PM CDT
Would you explain how an adult drowns in a rsidential swimming pool? Unless he had a seizure, was impaired or struck his head somehow. Report how this happened. Reply
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+2
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Yourself
Jun 8, 09 10:16 AM CDT
"Rajeev Motwani, 47, who could not swim, drowned at his Atherton, Calif., home," - the part of "could not swim" might be a clue? He might have been trying to learn, or just walking around in the shallow end. as for reporting on how this happened, i don't think will make a lick of difference.
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+1
Jojo
Jun 7, 09 6:21 PM CDT
See at the bottom of the article there, like in all articles here, where it says SOURCE and has a hyperlink to the actual story? If you click on that you get more information: "Motwani apparently drowned Friday morning in a backyard swimming pool at the home he purchased three years ago. Friends said he did not know how to swim, but was planning to take lessons. While little official information was available, friends speculated that Motwani may have slipped and fallen in the pool. " Newser summarizes stories in 2 paragraphs. Use SOURCE Reply
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+4
TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 8, 09 1:07 AM CDT
They think he slipped and may have knocked himself out before drowning. However, this still seems fishy. I think I would investigate any royalty or patent attorneys he may have been consulting with recently. Reply
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+2
DeniseVB
Jun 8, 09 10:37 AM CDT
I think an autopsy would show if his lungs are full of water, he drowned, if not, he was dead when he hit the water? Otherwise, it's just speculation at this point. If he (or someone else) hit his head as he slipped, wouldn't there be a mark? Reply
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