Dispute arises over body of Ted Williams-Ted Williams body being frozen?

MSNBC ^ | 7-7-02 | MSNBC News

[Rome2000]

John Henry Williams, left, reportedly wants to freeze the body of his dead father Ted Williams, right, for future cloning purposes. The two are shown here in 1995. Dispute arises over body of Ted Williams Estranged daughter says son wants to freeze Hall of Fame father for cloning NBCSPORTS.COM NEWS SERVICES

		July 6 —  A day after the death of baseball great Ted Williams, a dispute has already arisen over what to do with his body, as Williams’ estranged daughter says her half-brother plans to freeze the Hall of Famer’s body — possibly in hopes of selling his DNA in the future for cloning purposes.

       BOBBY-JO WILLIAMS FERRELL, Ted Williams’s oldest child, told the Boston Globe and Boston Herald that such a decision would go against Williams’ wishes to be cremated.
       “I’ve been quiet. I didn’t want to make waves. I want everybody to know now what’s been going on,” Ferrell told the Herald. “I’m going to try to get a restraining order.”
       Ferrell told the Boston Globe that a restraining order was to be filed Monday.
       Al Cassidy, executor of Williams’ estate, told the newspaper he would meet with the family’s lawyers Monday to start the process of handling the estate. He declined to say how large the estate was or how it would be divided. We’re all sitting here together, we’re all grieving, and we don’t want to attack (Ferrell),” said Cassidy, a longtime friend of the family. “But Ted had private wishes, and he would not like to see it happening like this.”
       Ferrell says her half-brother John Henry Williams plans to cryogenically freeze their father’s body and preserve his DNA. She said John Henry first brought up cryogenics after Williams’ open-heart surgery in 2001.
       “He said the way they’re going with medical science and DNA, we could freeze dad’s body, or we can freeze his head,” Ferrell said. “He said, we could sell the DNA.
       “I told him (Dad’s) against cryogenics. It is very immoral. I said I was against it and I would stand against it.”
       Later Saturday, Ferrell told The Associated Press that she was told by a “very important person” at Hooper’s Funeral Home in Inverness on Saturday that her father’s body had been moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., the day before. She would not identify the person.
       “My father’s body was put on a plane yesterday with people from Alcor,” Ferrell said, referring to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a provider of cryonics services.
       “My father’s body was picked up yesterday, transported to Ocala and he was accompanied by a Mr. David Hayes of Alcor to Scottsdale. All I know is that,” Ferrell said. “I’m imagining they were trying to keep it quiet,” she said.
       “I will rescue my father’s body. Me and my attorney are working on that,” she said.
       The Herald, citing a source close to Ted Williams, confirmed that John Henry is interested in cryogenics and has discussed plans for preserving his father’s remains.
       John Henry Williams did not return messages from the Associated Press or either newspaper on Saturday.
       Ted Williams’ attorney Eric Abel refused to confirm or deny any talk of cryogenics. He called the idea of selling DNA or cloning an “absurd proposition.”
       “The Williams family members are in a period of great grieving,” Abel said. “It is unfortunate that Barbara Joyce Ferrell has taken this moment to grab headlines.”
       Ferrell told the Globe that John Henry had approached her last year about possibly freezing the slugger’s body at Alcor, which has frozen 49 bodies. Ferrell’s husband, Mark, said John Henry said that Alcor would freeze Williams’ head for around $50,000.
       Ferrell said she learned from a friend in the hospital where Williams died that John Henry Williams had gone ahead with the freezing plan.
       “She told me my father died, and they were freezing him and pumping him full of blood thinners. I knew right away what it was,” Ferrell told the Globe. “He’s just trying to make money off Daddy.”
       “Some people believe in this,” Dr. Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer for Advanced Cell Technology, a pioneer cloning company in Worcester told the Globe. “You can freeze tissues and organs, but we don’t have the technology to thaw those organs out without severe damage. The hope is by some day in the future they will have the technology.
       “It’s not something I would personally endorse, but to each his own,” said Lanza.
       Abel said no funeral services have been planned for Williams, who died Friday at the age of 83.

Boston Red Sox officials said Saturday they have tentatively scheduled a memorial celebration on July 22 at Fenway Park, Williams’ home field for 19 seasons.

Abel asked, at the request of the Williams’ family, that instead of flowers, donations be made to The Jimmy Fund, a Boston-based charity, or the Ted Williams Museum in Hernando

[Rome2000]

Strange times we live in.

[Rome2000]

Ferrell’s husband, Mark, said John Henry said that Alcor would freeze Williams’ head for around $50,000

Is that supposed to be some kind of bargain?

I thought this was from "The Onion" but this is a real story.

[cpprfld]

Wow

[Squantos]

Good grief.......

[Rome2000]

http://www.alcor.org/

[Red Jones]

money

[Jonathon Spectre]

This MUST be some kind of crazy-ass joke.

Either that, or the son doesn't believe in life after death. I'd HATE to have to explain this sort of behavior to dad later...

[tortoise]

Is that supposed to be some kind of bargain?

It is the amount of money required to maintain cryogenic suspension indefinitely based on investing the principle. Due to the unknown time horizon, this is the only practical way to operate so that the money doesn't run out. Cryogenic suspension itself is relatively cheap on an annual basis.

[smith288]

Williams was good because he worked hard on his hitting. He may have natural eye-hand coordination, but no offspring from his genes will be as good without putting the practice and also understanding of how pitchers dealt with him. An example is his nutty son who is only good at looking like a freak.

[anniegetyourgun]

I am so glad to hear it wasn't Ted himself who wanted to do this ridiculous thing.

[spectre]

Williams should have made final arrangements for his burial (type) at the same time he drew up his will.

I did.

sw

[IronJack]

I'll go out on a limb here and say that in my opinion, the family is free to dispose of the body any way they wish. It's fruity for sure, and goes counter to the decedent's wishes. But it's perfectly legal, if somewhat macabre.

[Rome2000]

This is so freakish as to border on the criminal. Cutting off your fathers head and freezing it is sick.

[buffyt]

Well don't let anyone save my head. I haven't used it during my life, so why bother? hee hee But I hope they give my eyes to someone. I am 51 and still have almost 20-20 vision. Would be a shame to bury my eyes. Only thing on this old bod that still works!

[SevenofNine]

OHH that is gross

I don't think Ted really want his dead body be sold as CLONING

Beside I doubt clone could hit as good as original Ted William

OH MAN Rome2000 that gross BUDDY

YUK!!!

[mware]

This is so sad. Ted Williams was a very private man during his lifetime, to do something like this after he has died is
disgraceful.

[mware]

From what I have heard the son wants to sell his dad's DNA.

What a sorry excuse for a son.

[spectre]

Isn't there another way to sell his Dad's DNA without freezing the guys body/head?

This is truly disgusting, but the times, they are a'changin!

sw

[IronJack]

Cutting off your fathers head and freezing it is sick.

Agreed. But perfectly legal.

[NYCVirago]

Williams was good because he worked hard on his hitting. He may have natural eye-hand coordination, but no offspring from his genes will be as good without putting the practice and also understanding of how pitchers dealt with him. An example is his nutty son who is only good at looking like a freak.

Exactly. Ted Williams had excellent eyesight, but he attributed his success to hard work, not genetic gifts. His son has his father's genes, but none of his class.

Besides, this cloning is a really bad idea -- what if Hillary or Chelsea gets the idea to freeze Bill Clinton's head and have him cloned?