Who is Josh Pickles? DoorDash exec dies after boat capsized on Lake Tahoe
The DoorDash executive who died June 21 in a boat accident on Lake Tahoe had been hosting a celebration of his mother's birthday with family and friends.
Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, of San Francisco, was among the eight who died when the 27-foot Chris-Craft boat they were in capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park in South Lake Tahoe, California that Saturday afternoon. There were 10 passengers on board when a sudden storm brought 8-foot swells that caused the vessel to capsize, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Also on board and reported dead were Pickles' parents, Terry Pickles, 73, and Paula Bozinovich, 71, both of Redwood City, California, and his uncle, Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, California.
Two people were rescued, but four others died:
A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Josh Pickles was the head of strategic sourcing at DoorDash in San Francisco, the San Jose Mercury News reported. He had worked at DoorDash for seven years after previous jobs at Cisco Systems and Salesforce, Bay Area news station ABC 7 reported, citing his LinkedIn page, which is no longer online.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that took the life of our beloved colleague, Josh Pickles," DoorDash chief financial officer Ravi Inukonda said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Josh loved his team and was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. During his nearly seven years at DoorDash, he brought a contagious spirit that lifted those around him. The loss of Josh is immeasurable. We miss him deeply and will carry his memory with us always."
His wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, told the Mercury News in a statement the group had gone out on the boat to celebrate Bozinovich's birthday. The couple married two years ago and Sugar-Carlsgaard remained at home with their 7-month-old daughter, the News reported.
"We are devastated by this tragedy. We lost my loving husband, Josh Pickles, his parents, Terry Pickles and Paula Bozinovich, and Uncle Peter Bayes, as well as friends in this tragedy," Sugar-Carlsgaard said in her statement. "No words can express the pain and anguish we feel knowing their lives were lost during what was meant to be a joyful time on the lake. Our hearts go out to those who tragically lost their lives and the two survivors of this unexpected and deadly storm on Lake Tahoe.'
Pickles and Sugar-Carlsgaard, who is a senior executive assistant to the CEO of Airbnb, owned homes in the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Pickles was a part owner of the boat, which he had purchased a year ago with his father, according to the Chronicle. Family spokesman Sam Singer said the boat belonged to Pickles and his wife, ABC 7 reported.
This outing was the first this season after just two sessions last boating season, according to Singer. "This is a terrible heartbreaking tragedy," he told ABC 7.
Contributing: Julia Gomez, Siobhan McAndrew, Brett McGinness and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Network
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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