John Henry Williams

03-07-2004, 08:02 PM

John Henry Williams, the son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams, has died. He was 35.

A source close to the Williams family has confirmed to ESPN that John Henry died at 1:33 a.m. ET Sunday at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had been suffering from leukemia.

The source said funeral services would be private.

"On behalf of all of us with the Boston Red Sox, we extend our condolences to the John Henry Williams family," principal owner John W. Henry said in a statement. "Perhaps no person meant more to the history of the Boston Red Sox than did his father, and it was clear that his father's life and legacy were the focal point of John Henry Williams' life.

Williams was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in October. He underwent chemotherapy for several weeks, but his condition did not improve. He then underwent a bone marrow transplant. His younger sister, Claudia, was the donor, according to his friends and associates.

Ted Williams' brother died of leukemia when he was in his 40s.

John Henry tried his hand at professional baseball in summer 2002 with a low-level Sox minor league team, but his attempt ended after two games when he crashed into a camera well and fractured a rib. He tried to revive his career in the independent leagues, but many baseball experts believed he started his career too late.

After Ted Williams died July 5, 2002, John Henry Williams was at the center of a controversy surrounding his father's remains. Williams had his father's body taken to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, an Arizona cryonics lab, setting off a battle with his half-sister who said her father had wanted to be cremated.

John Henry and Claudia Williams claim they and their father signed a handwritten pact in November 2000 agreeing that they would be put in deep freeze after death.

The matter was settled in December, when Bobby Jo Ferrell, Ted Williams' oldest daughter, dropped her objections. Just last week, however, Ferrell's attorney demanded that Alcor release copies of a document that would show Ted Williams agreed to give his body to the facility.

Attorney John Heer, representing Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell, said that Alcor is required to comply with his request under the federal Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and a similar state law governing donation of human organs and bodies for medical research.

Alcor Chief Executive Officer Joe Waynick said last week that Ferrell gave up her rights in the matter when she entered into a settlement agreement two years ago in the Florida courts.

Ted Williams finished with a .344 career average and was the last major league to bat over .400, when he hit .406 in 1941.

About 10,500 new cases of acute myelogenous leukemia are diagnosed each year in the United States, with remission occurring in 70-80 percent of those patients.

Icer · 03-07-2004, 11:50 PM

I could care less, the guy was a fvckhead about his father.

shawn306 · 03-08-2004, 06:56 AM

You know usually I would feel bad when someone dies at a young age.

This guy though. Sorry just can't do it.

03-08-2004, 11:20 AM

He was pretty brutal. Just found it strange that he died at such a young age. But what he did to his Dad really wasn't cool.

mbn007 · 03-08-2004, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maxman@Mar 8 2004, 12:20 PM
He was pretty brutal. Just found it strange that he died at such a young age. But what he did to his Dad really wasn't cool.

Maybe now Ted will finally get that burial he deserves.

d0MiNo · 03-08-2004, 02:44 PM

Ted didn't want to be buried. He wanted to be cremated, and he wanted his and his dogs ashes spread over a ocean.

03-07-2004, 08:02 PM	#1
Maxman Edit Status Guest Posts: n/a	John Henry Williams, the son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams, has died. He was 35. A source close to the Williams family has confirmed to ESPN that John Henry died at 1:33 a.m. ET Sunday at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had been suffering from leukemia. The source said funeral services would be private. "On behalf of all of us with the Boston Red Sox, we extend our condolences to the John Henry Williams family," principal owner John W. Henry said in a statement. "Perhaps no person meant more to the history of the Boston Red Sox than did his father, and it was clear that his father's life and legacy were the focal point of John Henry Williams' life. Williams was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in October. He underwent chemotherapy for several weeks, but his condition did not improve. He then underwent a bone marrow transplant. His younger sister, Claudia, was the donor, according to his friends and associates. Ted Williams' brother died of leukemia when he was in his 40s. John Henry tried his hand at professional baseball in summer 2002 with a low-level Sox minor league team, but his attempt ended after two games when he crashed into a camera well and fractured a rib. He tried to revive his career in the independent leagues, but many baseball experts believed he started his career too late. After Ted Williams died July 5, 2002, John Henry Williams was at the center of a controversy surrounding his father's remains. Williams had his father's body taken to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, an Arizona cryonics lab, setting off a battle with his half-sister who said her father had wanted to be cremated. John Henry and Claudia Williams claim they and their father signed a handwritten pact in November 2000 agreeing that they would be put in deep freeze after death. The matter was settled in December, when Bobby Jo Ferrell, Ted Williams' oldest daughter, dropped her objections. Just last week, however, Ferrell's attorney demanded that Alcor release copies of a document that would show Ted Williams agreed to give his body to the facility. Attorney John Heer, representing Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell, said that Alcor is required to comply with his request under the federal Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and a similar state law governing donation of human organs and bodies for medical research. Alcor Chief Executive Officer Joe Waynick said last week that Ferrell gave up her rights in the matter when she entered into a settlement agreement two years ago in the Florida courts. Ted Williams finished with a .344 career average and was the last major league to bat over .400, when he hit .406 in 1941. About 10,500 new cases of acute myelogenous leukemia are diagnosed each year in the United States, with remission occurring in 70-80 percent of those patients.

03-07-2004, 11:50 PM	#2
Icer All League Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 3,147	I could care less, the guy was a fvckhead about his father.

03-08-2004, 06:56 AM	#3
shawn306 All Pro Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,045	You know usually I would feel bad when someone dies at a young age. This guy though. Sorry just can't do it.

03-08-2004, 11:20 AM	#4
Maxman Edit Status Guest Posts: n/a	He was pretty brutal. Just found it strange that he died at such a young age. But what he did to his Dad really wasn't cool.

03-08-2004, 02:44 PM	#6
d0MiNo Practice Squad Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 36	Ted didn't want to be buried. He wanted to be cremated, and he wanted his and his dogs ashes spread over a ocean.