Sheryl Sandberg on Dave Goldberg’s death: ‘darkest and saddest moments of my life’

Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg opened up about her late husband in a moving eulogy Tuesday.

In a post on Facebook, the first time Sandberg publicly commented on the shocking death, she described Dave Goldberg as her “rock” and called their 11 years of marriage the “truest partnership that I could imagine.”

“Dave and I did not get nearly enough time together,” she wrote. “But as heartbroken as I am today, I am equally grateful. Even in these last few days of completely unexpected hell -- the darkest and saddest moments of my life -- I know how lucky I have been.”

Sandberg included two photos, including one of the couple on their wedding day.

Goldberg, a longtime California technology industry leader and chief executive of SurveyMonkey, died Friday from head trauma and blood loss after apparently slipping off a treadmill while vacationing with family and friends in Mexico, according to the Associated Press. He was 47.

Hundreds of people close to him, including top entertainment and technology executives, filled a Stanford University auditorium to mourn Tuesday.

Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer and author of the bestselling book “Lean In,” said she met Goldberg nearly 20 years ago in Los Angeles.

“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,” she wrote.

Earlier Tuesday, Sandberg used Facebook to briefly thank President Obama for saying kind words about Goldberg. Obama’s post on the White House’s Facebook page said Goldberg’s relentless search for ways to empower others made him a true leader.

“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,” Obama said.

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