Stephen Hillenburg place of burial Pacific Ocean
Illness and death
Hillenburg disclosed to Variety magazine in March 2017 that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), even though he continued to work on SpongeBob SquarePants for as long as he was able. He added: "My family and I are grateful for the outpouring of love and support. We ask that our sincere request for privacy be honored during this time." Hillenburg was in the early stages of the disease at the time, according to a source close to him. During his last days as executive producer, he had difficulty speaking, and it came to the point where he eventually stopped coming to the office.Hillenburg did not succumb to the disease until November 26, 2018, at the age of 57. According to his death certificate, his body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California the next day. SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run were dedicated to his memory.
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