Sean Cooley, the content and marketing director for Highway Cannabis Co., passed away October 8 as the result of a medical emergency.
Cooley was a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). In 2021, he competed as a Man of the Year candidate, raising more than $200,000 in honor of his father, Gregg, who passed away from cancer.
“Sean was truly a changemaker and was always looking to lend a helping hand,” a Highway Cannabis spokeswoman said. “His impact will continue to be felt by cancer patients and their families and will improve their quality of life for years to come, a cause near and dear to Sean’s heart.”
Cooley joined the senior leadership team at Highway Cannabis in June as part of a launch plan to accelerate product innovation and drive awareness of the brand.
“I was able to work with Sean intimately over the past four months and truly appreciated his hard work, dedication, and creativity, but most of all his passion that he brought to the team each and every day,” said Chief Executive Officer Chris Colón. “Please keep Sean’s family and friends in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time. For many of us, we have not only lost a co-worker, but also a friend.”
Cooley spent 19 years in content marketing, holding several senior positions at tech and media companies. Over his five-year tenure in cannabis, he served as director of content marketing at Weedmaps, senior editor and writer at Thrillist, and content director at High Times. Immediately prior to joining Highway Cannabis, he headed marketing operations at Grassdoor, where he played a key role in scaling the growth strategy for the delivery technology platform.
Cooley is survived by his wife, Christine.
A memorial service will take place October 29. In lieu of flowers, Cooley’s family has asked that donations be made to LLS.
