Robert Chester Wilson Ettinger was an American academic and author who became widely known as the "father of cryonics." Born in 1918, Ettinger made a significant and lasting impact on the concept of life extension with the publication of his landmark 1962 book, The Prospect of Immortality. This work served as a foundational text for the cryonics movement, introducing and popularizing the idea of preserving human bodies at low temperatures for potential future revival.
In addition to his influential writing, Ettinger was an active organizer and leader within the cryonics community. He founded the Cryonics Institute as well as the related Immortalist Society, helping to establish a structured institutional framework for those interested in the practice. He served as the president of these groups for many years, remaining in the role until 2003 to guide their development and promote the concepts detailed in his literature.
Ettinger's commitment to his theories of immortality extended directly to his personal life and his family. Following his death in 2011, his body was cryopreserved. This same preservation procedure was also performed on his mother, as well as his first and second wives, reflecting his lifelong dedication to the prospects of cryonic preservation.
