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Originally published December 14, 2018

Stephen Hillenburg, the person who created the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants, sadly passed away on Nov. 26, while he was only 57 years old.

Hillenburg passed away after fighting a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which he was diagnosed with a year before his death. ALS is a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function.

Hillenburg was an American animator, cartoonist, and a former marine biology teacher. He also directed, wrote, and produced the Nickelodeon cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the fifth longest-running American animated series and won many awards, such as the Kids Choice Award for Favorite Cartoon in 2018 and Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Animated Show in 2009. Stephen Hillenburg has also won awards such as the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program and the British Academy Children’s International Award.

Although SpongeBob SquarePants was HIllenburg's most successful show, it was not his first. He made shows like Rocko’s Modern Life from 1993-1996.

“I’ve always been interested in making things, but I chose not to go to art school, because I thought I needed to do something else,” Hillenburg said during an interview. “Art was a tough way to make a living. I’ve always done both. I kind of figured that the marine biology would be a career and the art would be something I do for my own self-expression.”

After his death, Hillenburg had his ashes spread at sea. According to a copy of his death certificate from TMZ, Hillenburg's ashes were scattered at the coast of California after cremation.

An anonymous person stated in an MBMS student survey said, “My childhood would not have been the same without SpongeBob.”

After Hillenburg’s death was announced, SpongeBob’s fans were quick to think about a new petition. Fans made a petition that has almost one million supporters on the website change.org which is about having SpongeBob’s bubble bowl “Sweet victory” be performed at the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime show.

A person who helped start the petition stated, “We need to realize how much Stephen Hillenburg has been a huge part of our childhoods by bringing SpongeBob to life and creating such fun and long-lasting memories that all of us can look back on.”

Hillenburg brought joy to both kids and adults. After the news on his death, people from all around the world were all shaken. Even celebrities paid tribute to the death of this incredible artist.