I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first - Steve Hawking, 2011.
Image gotten from BBC
Steve Hawking is no more, gone to be with the stars. The incredible British genius is burnt out!
Lucasian professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University (1979-2009) ✔.
Defied the doctors who gave him 2 years to live after diagnosing him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or Motor Neurone disease at the age of 22 to live for 50+ extra years ✔.
First quadriplegic to experience zero gravity ✔.
Propounded the Hawking Radiation ✔.
Most viewed PhD thesis ever! ✔ . After making his 134-paged thesis public, the publications section of the Cambridge University website crashed!
Turned down the knighthood by the the British government because he didn't like how they funded science ✔.
Author of the most popular book never read (as he calls it); his "A Brief History Of Time" has sold 10 million copies; a select few have ever read it to the end. One of the most complex books to ever be a bestseller; stayed on the list for a record 237 weeks!✔
Married twice! That man was hot stuff!✔
A man with a great sense of humor.
The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognised. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away", 2006.
Was a renowned daredevil, who loved the adrenaline rush!✔
At least, 12 honorary degrees to his name, and several individual honors including the CBE (Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a major honor for a British citizen and one rank below knighthood) as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the US's highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.
Tributes have flown in from across the globe..
- The crew of the Big Bang Theory
- NASA
- Cambridge University
- 10, Downing Street.
- Sheer Class!