Today Marriott announced that Bill Marriott’s son, Stephen, passed away at the age of 54. Mr. Marriott paid tribute to his son in his Marriott On The Move Blog. It’s a very touching tribute.
“No parent should have to see their child die, and those who do are members of a club that no one wants to belong to. Donna and I lost our dear son, Stephen, this week at the age of 54. He had been diagnosed in his teens with a rare mitochondrial disease that slowly cost him his eyesight, his hearing, his strength, and finally, his life. Yet during all those decades since his diagnosis, we remained hopeful that the doctors would find a cure. Stephen is one of my great heroes, because he never allowed his disease to get in the way of his ambition or his passions. He went to Brigham Young University, then got his master’s degree in business administration at Arizona State University in Phoenix. He married Julie, the girl of his dreams, and they had three gorgeous children and five beautiful grandchildren.”
– See more at: http://www.blogs.marriott.com/marriott-on-the-move/2013/06/my-hero-stephen.html#sthash.IGDmUrYg.dpuf