The Physicist and Author of ‘A Brief History of Time’ died peacefully this morning at his home in Cambridge. His family released a statement in the early hours of the morning confirming his death.
Hawking’s children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today”.
He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.
“He once said: ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.”
Tributes have poured in across social media showing just how widely respected he was around the world. Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist, wrote on Twitter “A star just went out in the cosmos, We have lost an amazing human being.”
Hawking became a hero to math and science geeks and a pop culture figure, guest-starring as himself on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “The Simpsons.”I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many,” he wrote on his website.
“I have been lucky that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope.”
RIP Stephen Hawking – a true hero and genius.
