Saving Ted Williams

About the Book

SAVING TED WILLIAMS
Tales of Mystery, Intrigue, and Redemption
by Richard C. Jaffeson
April 2005
Copyrights (c) 1998-2005

Immediately after his passing on July 5, 2002, Ted Williams’ remains were flown to Arizona where the body was treated, beheaded, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored in stainless-steel containers through a process known as cryonics, which claims to eventually be able to revive, repair, and restore deceased persons. This process is highly questionable, and should be substantiated in order to determine its validity. More importantly, as described in articles contained herein, Williams’ 1996 will included specific instructions regarding his final disposition, and he never contracted for cryonics treatment.

As presented on the home page of the “Save Ted Williams” website: “If this story was not true, it seems that it could have been taken directly from the script of a B-rated science fiction movie, when immediately upon his death in Florida at an elderly age, a once outstanding baseball star and hero, is whisked away in by private airplane to be cryonically frozen at a laboratory somewhere in Arizona. Should this plot be in another Austin Powers movie, or in a film such as ´Sleeper´ by Woody Allen? Or, perhaps it was derived partly from the novel ´Frankenstein´ by Mary Shelley.”

Ted Williams’ 1996 will stipulated a ceremony and cremation with his ashes spread across the Florida Keys along with those of Slugger his Dalmatian. However, before his final wishes could be accomplished, his remains were taken by the eldest son directly to a cryonics firm in Arizona. Afterwards, other members of the immediate family were unable to secure the release of his remains, and they have been required to discontinue those efforts in December 2002.

Subsequently, two approaches were developed by this author to achieve resolution and redemption. The first was to have the cryonics firm authenticate its claims of restoring life after death under provisions of Arizona’s stringent consumer protection laws, while the second is an evaluation of funding practices whereby potential clients utilize life insurance to finance treatment. The articles presented herein provide background information and further elaborate upon these approaches. Content covers concepts and methods presented in entertaining formats on what otherwise might be considered a fairly unpleasant topic and a highly unfortunate occurrence.

Ted Williams, a notable American icon and outstanding baseball hero, should not be subjected to this current condition. His remains and memory should be treated with dignity and honor reflecting his accomplishments and contributions.

More information is available on the following website.
http://washdc.pages.qpg.com/saveted

About the Author

Richard C. Jaffeson is concurrently executive director of the National Certification Commission established in June 1993 and National Women’s Baseball Hall of Fame established in September 1998. He is a resident of suburban Washington, DC since August 1972.

Formal education includes a BA cum laude in American and European history and geography, MA in urban geography, and completed PhD course work in urban geography. Induction into national scholastic honorary societies included Phi Sigma Alpha (Liberal Arts), Gamma Theta Upsilon (Geography), and Phi Alpha Theta (History). He holds AICP professional certification in urban and regional planning since October 1978, and ACA advance certification administrator credentials since January 1994.

During the 1970s, he was a senior planner with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and later served as coordinator of council programs on the national staff of the American Planning Association in Washington, DC.

During the 1980s, he was a program director in science and technology with the University of Maryland’s Center for Professional Development in College Park, Maryland. In the 1990s, he became director of credentials for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials in Washington, DC.

He has held numerous elected and appointed positions with the Middle Atlantic Division, Association of American Geographers (MAD/AAG) twice serving as president in 1976-1977 and 2002-2003; and the National Capital Area Chapter, American Planning Association (NCAC/APA) twice serving as vice president in 1978-1980 and 1984-1986. Over the years, he received four distinguished service awards from these organizations (June 1977, June 1983, December 1984, and June 1987).