Stephen Hawking, legendary physicist, dead at 76

Cambridge Prof. Stephen Hawking during a news conference on “Breakthrough Starshot”, a space exploration initiative, at One World Observatory on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in New York.(JAMES KEIVOM/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

Genius British physicist Stephen Hawking who overcame a crippling muscular disease to bring the most complex scientific ideas to the public died Tuesday, his family said.

He was 76.

“Professor Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge,” in a statement released by the family.

The astrophysicist was often compared to Albert Einstein not only for the field of science that he chose to pursue, but also the breakthrough theories that he presented.

His bestselling book “A Brief History of Time” helped illuminate the most complex theories on the origin of the universe, the relationship of space and time, gravity and black holes.

The Cambridge University professor tapped into a universal need to understand the universe.

“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 humor 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 forever,” according to the family statement.

Hawking, who remained a public figure despite being confined to a wheelchair after being diagnosed with ALS disease in 1963, was unable to speak without the aid of a computer.

The disease did not slow him down.

He divorced his wife 1990 after 26 years for another woman. That marriage lasted until 2006, when he divorced again.

The University of Cambridge has very kindly offered to open a book of condolence at Gonville and Caius College for anyone who would like to pay tribute to the life and work of Prof. Hawking.

Homegrown astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History, tweeted, “His passing has left an intellectual vacuum in his wake. But it's not empty. Think of it as a kind of vacuum energy permeating the fabric of spacetime that defies measure. Stephen Hawking, RIP 1942-2018.”

- ny news