Stanford professor Rajeev Motwani, early Google advisor, found dead in home swimming pool

Stanford computer prof. Rajeev Motwani found dead

ATHERTON, Calif. — Rajeev Motwani, a well-known Stanford University computer science professor who advised one of Google’s creators, was found dead in his swimming pool.

Stanford University said the 47-year-old professor apparently drowned on Friday at his home in Atherton, and his friends told the school news service he did not know how to swim.

Motwani’s work using algorithms to search vast computer databases, like the Internet, is celebrated in Silicon Valley.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin wrote on his blog that Motwani’s counsel played a big role in his research, education, and professional development.