Honoring Marcus Picou – Veteran, Husband, Father, Taken Too Soon

With broken hearts, we share the tragic passing of Marcus Picou (48), a devoted husband, loving father, and proud U.S. Army Veteran. Marcus was born on January 13, 1977, in East Palo Alto and served his country with honor in the U.S. Army Corps for eight years.

On August 24, 2025, while spending time with friends, Marcus’s life was tragically cut short in Stockton, California, by an act of senseless violence. Our family is shattered by this sudden loss.

Marcus is survived by his loving wife, Nuriza, his four children — Jeramiah (28), Angeline (20), Madeline (18), and Zariah (11) — and their loyal dog Luna. They were the center of his world, and his greatest joy came from being a husband, father, and provider.

Just before his passing, Marcus had proudly helped prepare his daughter Madeline for college in Southern California — a milestone that filled him with pride as a father. He was deeply committed to giving each of his children the best future possible.

Marcus will always be remembered as a genuine, loving, and caring person. He treated everyone with kindness, was polite and respectful to all, and carried himself with dignity and humility. Beyond his humor and resilience, Marcus had a rare ability to make people feel seen and valued. His service to his country reflected his character — but it was his service to family, friends, and community that defined him.

Marcus also had a deep love for sports. He was a loyal fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. Just as much as he enjoyed cheering for his teams, he loved supporting and partaking in youth sports with kids, finding joy in being present, encouraging, and active in family and community activities.

His recent disability challenges had kept him from working in the last few months, and the family was doing their best to manage with limited resources.

Now, in addition to overwhelming grief, Nuriza and the kids face heavy financial burdens.

The money raised through this fundraiser will go directly toward:

Immediate needs such as the family’s mortgage, groceries, and daily living costs

Future support for the kids, to help Madeline continue her college education and provide stability for the younger children as they move forward despite this unimaginable loss

We ask for your support during this devastating time. Any donation, no matter the size, will help us honor Marcus with the dignity he deserves and provide stability for his family both now and in the future. If you are unable to donate, please keep Marcus, Nuriza, Angeline, Jeramiah, Madeline, Zariah, and Luna in your thoughts and prayers, and please share this fundraiser with others to help us spread the word.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.