A Non-Profit Organization

November - DecemberJanuary 20152018 • VoVolumelume 36:139:6

Member Profile: Russell Cheney Page 14

Two Legal Cryonics Victories Page 6

You CAN Take It With You Page 38

ISSN 1054-4305

$9.95 Improve Your Odds of a Good Cryopreservation You have your cryonics funding and contracts in place but have you considered other steps you can take to prevent problems down the road? ü Keep Alcor up-to-date about personal and medical changes. ü Update your Alcor paperwork to reflect your current wishes. ü Execute a cryonics-friendly Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. ü Wear your bracelet and talk to your friends and family about your desire to be cryopreserved. ü Ask your relatives to sign Affidavits stating that they will not interfere with your cryopreservation. ü Attend local cryonics meetings or start a local group yourself. ü Contribute to Alcor’s operations and research.

Contact Alcor (1-877-462-5267) and let us know how we can assist you. Visit the ALCOR FORUMS www.alcor.org/forums/ Discuss Alcor and cryonics topics with other members and Alcor officials. • The Alcor Foundation • Financial • Cell Repair Technologies • Rejuvenation • Cryobiology • Stabilization • Events and Meetings Other features include pseudonyms (pending verification of membership status) and a private forum. Visit the ALCOR BLOG www.alcor.org/blog/ Your source for news about: • Cryonics technology • Speaking events and meetings • Cryopreservation cases • Employment opportunities • Television programs about cryonics Alcor is on Facebook Connect with Alcor members and supporters on our official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/alcor.life.extension.foundation Become a fan and encourage interested friends, family members, and colleagues to support us too. CONTENTS 5 EDITORIAL 14 COVER STORY Good Cryonics is Local Alcor aims to respond Member Profile: to all of its members as Russell Cheney timely and professionally Redefine your understanding of as possible but common endurance with Russell Cheney. sense and experimental evidence indicates that A passionate distance runner being as close to Alcor as with at least one marathon and possible remains the most ultramarathon under his belt sensible choice for both from each U.S. state, Russell the member and Alcor. takes a breather to share family memories from his Mojave 20 FOR THE RECoRD Desert hometown, his years Cryonics Newsletters: volunteering with one of Alcor’s Some Historical Highlights, Part 3, first emergency response teams, Cryonics Society of and his adventures roaming the California country in his 24’ Born Free Our multipart series on motorhome. cryonics newsletters here focuses on the newsletters of the Cryonics Society of 6 Two Legal Cryonics Victories California, 1967 – 1974. The year of 2018 witnessed two legal victories for cryonics. 40 Membership Statistics In the United Kingdom Cryonics UK prevailed in litigation to How many members, maintain its charitable status. In British Columbia, Canada associate members, and litigation forced a new interpretation of the law against patients does Alcor have offering cryonics services to allow well-informed individuals to and where do they live? contract with local cryonics providers. 41 Revival Update Mike Perry surveys 38 You CAN Take It With You (and here’s how) the news and research Alcor has been collaborating to create a Multi-Investor Future to report on new Income Trust that will allow members with more modest developments that bring assets to take their assets with them. Mark E. House visited the us closer to the revival of Alcor New York group to talk about what they are working on. cryonics patients.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 3 Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, Editorial Board Saul Kent I wanted to write a letter to enthusiastically endorse the excellent Ralph C. Merkle, Ph.D. R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. article by Max More in the Sept/Oct. CRYONICS issue. Long term cryonics funding enabling one’s coverage to be in Editor Aschwin de Wolf place and sufficient in the later years is a non-trivial problem. But it IS a problem that has some optimal and in many cases Contributing Writers affordable answers. Aschwin de Wolf Nancy Fisher Since it has been available for cryonicists, I have encouraged Tim Gibson my clients to utilize an INDEX Universal Life policy with a face Keegan Macintosh amount of double the current Alcor minimums. This means R. Michael Perry, Ph.D. Nicole Weinstock $440k for whole bodies, $200k for neuros, and even more is Carrie Wong better.

Copyright 2018 In simple straightforward language, when it comes to obtaining by Alcor Life Extension Foundation cryonics funding life insurance, less is not more. More is more. All rights reserved. Extra coverage not currently needed can be directed to loved Reproduction, in whole or part, ones, charities, or an individual cryonics trust. without permission is prohibited. Overengineering your cryonics funding is THE most important magazine is published bi-monthly. Cryonics thing you can do for your long term benefit. And you being Please note: If you change your address less around in the future is important to the Universe, so please think than a month before the magazine is mailed, it big and get this one right. may be sent to your old address. Thanks to Max More for making this clear and explicit. Address correspondence to: Cryonics Magazine Rudi Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC 7895 East Acoma Drive, Suite 110 World’s Leading Cryonics Insuror Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 Phone: 480.905.1906 Toll free: 877.462.5267 Fax: 480.922.9027 Cryonics Magazine Announcement

Letters to the Editor welcome: Starting in 2019, Cryonics magazine will switch to a quarterly format [email protected] and will continue as a more scholarly, in-depth publication. An extensive conversation between the Editor, contributors, and the Alcor Advertising inquiries: Board of Directors generated a consensus that Alcor will benefit from 480.905.1906 x113 a communication model in which time-sensitive and routine public [email protected] news will be served to its members in the form of monthly email ISSN: 1054-4305 newsletters and social media, whereas the magazine will become Visit us on the web at www.alcor.org the vehicle for more technical and scientific contributions. Features you can expect to see in the new Cryonics magazine include science Alcor News Blog updates, protocol developments, high-quality case reports, historical http://www.alcor.org/blog/ and philosophical contributions, Alcor R&D reports, and profiles of prominent scholars and scientists. — Aschwin de Wolf (Chief Editor)

4 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org EDITORIAL

Photo: Cryo-Care Equipment Corporation at 2340 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Bedford’s “home” about 1970.

Good Cryonics is Local By Aschwin de Wolf

he enemies of a good cryonics and the patient that Alcor offers up to patient, more effort will need to be spent case are time and temperature. $10,000 in relocation assistance. To further in educating members of the advantages of Deployment of a standby team that incentivize such a choice, Alcor could timely relocation to the Scottsdale area. Tcan start rapid cooling upon circulatory consider further increasing the amount There might be one route to bringing arrest should take care of the temperature of relocation assistance and/or actively the hospital to the patient and that is challenge. The time element is more assist older and sick members to consider to encourage the creation of several of challenging. Even if a patient is stabilized relocating. “cryonics hubs” in areas with large numbers rapidly after pronouncement of legal Another solution is to bring all major of Alcor members. Support and recognition death, logistical and legal challenges can Alcor procedures to the location of the from Alcor for such initiatives is necessary interfere with timely transport to Alcor patient. This is easier said than done. but a decentralized approach could be for subsequent procedures. For example, Whereas a patient relocation does not effective here. Local members can start with if a patient is rapidly cooled down in require major expenditures and logistical creating a cryonics infrastructure to assist North Dakota but logistical challenges decisions on the part of Alcor, bringing professional standby teams. Such efforts can and flight schedules prevent arrival of the cryoprotection to the patient is a non-trivial include maintaining a list of pertinent local patient at Alcor until several days later, the task because it entails performing Alcor’s regulations, cooperating funeral homes, patient will still be subjected to progressive operating room procedures at a remote local volunteers and medical professionals, deterioration of the fine structure of the location. In practice, this can be done, and flight schedules. A more ambitious step brain, breakdown of the blood brain and Alcor has cautiously authorized “field would be to equip certain areas with a local barrier, swelling, and a number of processes cryoprotection” for overseas and selected rescue vehicle, as was done in the past in that prevent smooth cryoprotection of US cases. In principle field cryoprotection Southern California. A more ambitious step the brain, or even necessitate a “straight is possible for both neuro-patients and would be to equip such a vehicle for field freeze” (cryopreservation without a whole body patients but true whole body cryoprotection or even set up such facilities cryoprotectant). How should Alcor deal field cryoprotection would require the in a cooperating funeral home or building. with the challenge of having only one creation of an adequately equipped vehicle This is a formidable task that would require physical location in Arizona but being or satellite facility, not to speak of medical many hours of work and considerable responsible for members all over the world? expertise. Recognition of the fact that expenses but it would produce a more The most obvious solution is for a many Alcor members do not relocate when robust response infrastructure for Alcor terminal member to move to Alcor. In terminally ill, and potential cost savings, to utilize. It could also make some areas almost all cases this is the preferred solution have prompted some Alcor officials to less vulnerable to episodes of deteriorating because this prevents several potential advocate expanding field cryoprotection to response capabilities at Alcor. Last but not logistical, legal, and technical challenges. more members. least, bringing people together to engage in The advantages of moving to Alcor are so Since it is obviously easier to bring a such a project will also tighten the social great for both the cryonics organization patient to a hospital than a hospital to a fabric and local visibility of cryonics.  www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 5 Cryonics UK Wins Appeal to Retain Charity Status

By Tim Gibson

his journey began in the summer An appeal against the Charity The flaw in the Commission’s position of 2016 when Cryonics UK were Commission’s decision was filed with the was that they had destroyed all historic approached on behalf of a teenager court in December 2017. There followed records so could only guess as to the Twith terminal cancer who wished to be formal exchanges of statements of each circumstances around registration. The cryopreserved. Several obstacles stood in her party’s position and arguments, preparation only contemporaneous evidence was two way, any one of which would have stopped of witness statements, compilation of letters from CUK’s lawyer. These referred most people in their tracks. However, she scientific references and assessment of to widely drawn objectives, freezing and was unusually determined and won a High previous potentially relevant judgements. storing bodies, an association with Alcor, Court judgement to ensure that her wishes The intense workload continued right up and the submission of draft documents could be followed. to the hearing which took place over two and a thorough explanation of proposed The case brought immense media days in July 2018. activities to the Commission. The judge attention and became the lead story around Cryonics UK’s appeal was handled by agreed with CUK that cryonics fell within the globe upon release in November two part time volunteers. If this had been the wording of the objectives, and that the 2016. Coverage was largely positive with a carried out by even the most basically letters indicated the Commission were fully scattering of negativity in the gutter press. qualified legal professionals, CUK’s costs briefed and were involved in the drafting This prompted a single complaint to the would have likely been a six figure sum and process. charity regulator about Cryonics UK’s consequently prohibitive. At the start of the hearing, the charity status. The obvious question that the public Commission had to withdraw their The Charity Commission madeseem to be asking is ‘How did you win?’ argument of a deliberate misrepresentation. enquiries about Cryonics UK’s finances So if you’re also wondering this, here’s the If their lawyer had pursued this angle and operations lasting almost a year, legal stuff: in court, effectively accusing the charity finally announcing that CUK would be One of the central principles that the trustees of fraud without any evidence, removed from the charity register as the Charity Commission relied upon was that he could have faced disciplinary action Commission did not accept that ‘the they had not appreciated the cryonics- for professional misconduct. The appeal promotion and facilitation of cryonics and oriented nature of CUK’s proposed judgement subsequently remarked that cryopreservation’ was a charitable activity. activities at the time of registration, there was ‘absolutely no evidence’ to Cryonics UK could certainly operate arguing that insufficient or misunderstood support the accusation. without being a charity and received information had led to registration in error. The next parts of the legal puzzle are minimal tax benefits from its charity status. Charities are formed with particular the tests for charitable status. Firstly, the However, the loss of charity status produced objectives laid down in a governing objectives must fall under one or more of a negative message. It was therefore decided document. These are commonly written in the charitable purposes laid down in the not to take this regulatory action lying broad terms so as not to limit the scope of Charities Act. Secondly, the objectives down. The motivation was to stand up charitable activity in the long term. CUK’s must be for the public benefit. This second for the field of cryonics as a priority and objectives are described in terms of research criterion requires a benefit that adequately hopefully retain CUK’s individual charity into organ preservation, transplantation outweighs any consequential detriment and registration along the way. There was and anti-aging. During initial submissions that the benefit favours a sufficient section always the possibility that cryonics could be for the appeal, the Commission stepped of the public. All criteria must be met. deemed generally to be a charitable pursuit up their previous argument, suggesting For example, a school for criminal skills but that a technicality of CUK’s operating that the broad objectives were a deliberate would fall under the charitable purpose of model could still result in removal from the misrepresentation, disguising non- education but would not pass the public register. charitable cryonics-centric objectives. benefit test so could not be a charity.

6 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org The Charities Act does not precisely The judge’s decision details CUK’s but could not say it was impossible. define the above criteria but instead relies qualification as a charity under the The judge also considered the potential on legal precedents from individual cases to advancement of education and briefly value of a successful outcome, citing the create the definitions. This principle made includes the relief of suffering. Once search for Tutankhamun as a comparable the case particularly interesting for both charitable status had been confirmed under quest. The charitable gift was upheld. CUK and the Commission as by coming the first two purposes, there was no need The Shakespeare case proved the perfect at the law with a new set of issues, the for the judge to decide on the remaining counter to the Charity Commission’s case would create influential precedent no purposes. This was mildly disappointing position that cryonics was too speculative matter what the outcome. from CUK’s perspective as there was no case to be charitable research. The evidence Cryonics UK argued that it qualified law defining the advancement of science suggested a ‘credible possibility’ of under four charitable purposes: (1) the and CUK had proposed revised criteria success for cryonics and the value of such advancement of education including for charitable research by placing it in the success would clearly be huge. In CUK’s the subcategory of research, (2) the context of science rather than education. appeal, the judge confirmed that CUK advancement of health, particularly the The Charity Commission suggested ‘comfortably’ passed the threshold for subcategory of the relief of suffering, (3) the that the cost of cryonics meant that it educational value in charitable research. advancement of science, and (4) purposes wasn’t sufficiently accessible to meet the At the close of the hearing and in the final analogous to existing charitable purposes. public benefit requirement. This subject is decision, the judge introduced the subject where charity law surprises people. Third of protecting the interests of vulnerable party costs such as cryonics storage fees people. In dealing with terminal patients The motivation was to are irrelevant as they are not charges for and their relatives, the charity provides the provision of the charity’s resources. assistance to vulnerable people. It initially stand up for the field of Most of CUK’s services are provided free seemed that Cryonics UK was going to cryonics as a priority of charge or at cost, so the only cost that pick up a little criticism. However, the is relevant is the £5,000 fixed charge for judge then suggested that the Commission and hopefully retain deployment of an emergency team. As should have considered and catered for CUK’s individual charity mechanisms are in place to reduce this cost, the uncertainty faced by those vulnerable such as CUK membership, life insurance or beneficiaries resulting from regulatory registration along the way. simply making concessions in appropriate action against a 27 year old charity on circumstances, this satisfied the court which those people may rely. that CUK’s resources are accessible to a Most of CUK’s time and resources sufficient section of the public. are spent on providing information, An extensive list of previous cases were emergency protocol training, legal and presented for their precedent value. In In CUK’s appeal, the technical research, and development of particular, a New Zealand high court judge confirmed that CUK emergency infrastructure. The Charity judgement ruled that the regulator was Commission argued that the preservation wrong to refuse charity registration for two ‘comfortably’ passed the of individuals, which in its opinion was not cryonics research bodies. These charities and threshold for educational charitable, was CUK’s primary purpose. their legal team provided valuable support They further argued that the research, for CUK’s appeal by supplying extensive value in charitable research. education and development were ancillary case documentation. The UK high court to this primary, supposedly non-charitable, judgement referred to in the first paragraph purpose. However, case law had previously of this article provided legal authority for In the concluding remarks of the established that the actual use of resources the lawful status of cryonics in the UK and judgement, the court gave particular dictate the primary purpose, consequently also evidenced the relief of suffering. weight to the opinions of Dr João Pedro the preservation of individuals is the Perhaps the most unexpected case law de Magalhaes of Liverpool University ancillary element. In any case, the court came from a dispute over a charitable and Dr Ville Salmensuu, formerly of was not persuaded that one part of the gift in a will. The purpose of the gift was St George’s Hospital in London when field, the preservation of individuals, to search for undiscovered manuscripts reaching a decision. Cryonics UK would was not charitable, particularly as the attributed to William Shakespeare but like to express its appreciation to the many Commission had accepted that cryonics written by Francis Bacon. The expert experts, volunteers and members who research, education and development could witnesses in that case advised that the provided input and support during this be charitable. search was unlikely to yield any results lengthy process. 

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 7 A New Chapter for Cryonics in British Columbia

By Keegan Macintosh and Carrie Wong

n 1990, British Columbia quietly passed In a fairly short span of time after instead, another of Lifespan’s founding a law appearing to prohibit cryonics learning about cryonics and the broader members, Luke Cockerham went and spoke activities in the Canadian province. field of life extension (and devouring just with Bill Faloon about the work we were IIn 2018, the Lifespan Society of about everything I could find online to read doing in B.C. Getting the call from Bill British Columbia – with the substantial about it), I started reaching out to various that the Life Extension Foundation wanted financial assistance of the Life Extension people and groups I could find associated to help us in our challenge is a moment I Foundation, and Alcor member Geoff with cryonics, especially in Canada and won’t soon forget. The groundwork was set; Shmigelsky – reached a settlement with the British Columbia. The Cryonics Society of the Lifespan Society of British Columbia province wherein the government clarified Canada, founded by Ben Best and others, was formally constituted in June of 2012, its position as not intending to investigate was one such group. Charles Grodzicki, its mission to advocate for life extension and prosecute responsible cryonics practices who had made some local media buzz by practices underway. in the province. speaking out against the anti-cryonics law Mounting a constitutional challenge Twenty-eight years. Twenty-eight years in 2006 was another. We connected with is never easy. Mounting a challenge of uncertainty, frustration, and hard work a small group of cryonicists in Vancouver about an issue as fraught with bias and to achieve a compromise that allows and began meeting regularly, trying to set misunderstanding as cryonics is harder still. British Columbians to exercise their right goals and take action, but also creating Finding a legal team with the right mix of to life, liberty, and security of the person, a community around life extension in experience, interest, and nerve took some defining for themselves what constitutes Vancouver and the Lower Mainland that time (…and one false start!). In 2013, a meaningful chance at surviving an would hopefully take root and grow in Lifespan found a match in Jason Gratl, a otherwise permanent death. what is usually viewed as a pretty forward- constitutional lawyer who had represented To fully narrate the twenty-eight years thinking place. one of the intervenors in the (ultimately would make for a very long article. For successful) challenge to Canada’s anyone interested in the earlier years, we prohibition of physician-assisted suicide. highly recommend Ben Best’s detailed However, as preparations continued into description of the cryonics community’s Mounting a challenge about 2014, I came to realize that I was no longer reaction to B.C.’s anti-cryonics law for the an issue as fraught with bias interested in pursuing law professionally period of 1990-2006 (available at http:// myself, and so it was time for me to move cryocdn.org/law57.html). Were it not for and misunderstanding as on from being Lifespan’s full-time executive Ben’s efforts both at gaining clarity as to cryonics is harder still. director in order to develop professionally why the law was passed and advocating for in other areas (namely, education). its removal, but also his documentation of Carrie Wong – who got involved in our that process, the Lifespan Society might By 2012, we really seemed to have community after a presentation I gave at not exist, and the present resolution for something going. I had been able to get the local university some three years prior B.C. cryonics might not have been reached. some legal research done with the help – came on as Lifespan’s executive director I (Keegan) say this because it was Ben’s of Pro Bono Students Canada, which in spring 2014. chronicle that laid out the scene for me suggested there were indeed numerous shortly after I first learned about cryonics arguments that could be made against the The Challenge Begins in during the summer of 2010 – between my law’s constitutionality. I had attended the Earnest first and second years of law school – and ‘Teens & Twenties’ cryonics convention On July 14th, 2015, the Lifespan Society that ruffled my justice-minded feathers funded by the Life Extension Foundation commenced its lawsuit challenging the enough to try to do something about it. in 2011, but couldn’t attend in 2012 – constitutionality of section 14 of the

8 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services no explicit definition of “expectation” is though our constitutional challenge would Act (CIFSA). To our knowledge, British contained within the statute. Moreover, have been dismissed, as long as Lifespan Columbia is the only jurisdiction in the because at this time Lifespan Society and made no such representations about its world that has enacted a specific prohibition I were only ‘contemplating’ entering into services, it and any other cryonics service of cryonics services. a cryonics arrangement, the government providers in the province would be able Section 14’s specific wording is as refused to give an opinion as to whether to rely on the court decision as protection follows: Lifespan’s proposed activities would against potential regulatory overreach in 14. A person must not offer for sale, or would not transgress the theoretical the future. or sell, an arrangement for the boundary it was asserting existed. Left with On March 9, 2016, Carrie, myself, preservation or storage of human this uncertainty, we felt compelled to get and Andrew McKnight (a Lifespan board remains that is based on: clarification by putting the case before a member) spent the day watching our lawyer, a. cryonics judge – so, Lifespan and I persevered to get Mr. Gratl argue our case at the Supreme b. irradiation, or our day in court. Court of British Columbia. As it had done c. any other means of preservation Because the government was alleging in writing, the Crown argued we had no of storage, by whatever name there was no real ‘issue’ between the parties legal conflict with the government because called, and that is offered, or (i.e. Lifespan wasn’t breaking a law, so there our situation was hypothetical – that is, we sold, on the expectation of was nothing to argue about), we applied were not presently under prosecution for the resuscitation of human for an administrative hearing on the alleged violations of the law. The Crown’s remains at a future time. application of s.14 to Lifespan’s proposed lawyer further argued that it was neither Contravention of s.14 by an individual activities. the role of the attorney general nor the carries a maximum sentence of $10,000, court to give “legal advice” to individuals a term of imprisonment of 12 months, or on hypothetical scenarios in order for them both. The maximum fine for a corporation Were it not for Ben’s efforts to gain clarity on the meaning of the law in is $100,000. question. The basis of our claim was that Lifespan both at gaining clarity as to Unfortunately, despite well-articulated and myself wished to make an arrangement why the law was passed and arguments by Mr. Gratl that the case could for local standby response (as a backup to and should be heard without us having Alcor’s comprehensive member standby) advocating for its removal, to expose ourselves to potential criminal but were prevented from doing so by s.14, but also his documentation liability, the judge sided with the Crown, which we argued was a violation of my agreeing that there was no “live” conflict rights to life, liberty, and security of the of that process, the Lifespan between us and the government. The judge person protected by the Canadian Charter Society might not exist, and held that the issue was essentially academic, of Rights and Freedoms. and there was no factual context upon The lawsuit drew a flood of media the present resolution for which he could make an administrative attention. Major news outlets across the B.C. cryonics might not ruling clarifying the meaning of section 14. country covered our challenge, including It was clear now the case was not going CBC, National Post, Globe and Mail, have been reached. to be quickly resolved. Temporary defeat CTV, radio stations and others. Carrie and was frustrating, but we had the means to I conducted interviews and did our best to continue to our next course of action. The frame cryonics in a positive light. We were A hearing for this pre-trial motion was silver-lining in this preliminary scuffle was generally pleasantly surprised at the quality set for early 2016. Lifespan was in the observing how neither the Crown nor the and tone of the coverage. strange position of arguing that its proposed judge seemed inclined to characterize our In its formal response to our claim activities would be in violation of s.14, in proposed cryonics activities as illegal (quite later that year, the government took the order that the real issue of whether or not the opposite, in fact) – they were merely position that s.14 only prohibited cryonics the law was unconstitutional would ever not prepared to give us a go-ahead we could arrangements if the vendor stated or even be heard by a judge. In some ways, rely on. implied that resuscitation was “likely”, this made it feel like the parties were on the or otherwise instilled in the buyer a high wrong sides of the courtroom. However, A Second Attempt expectation of resuscitation in the future. it did mean there was a second potential Reacting to the judge’s findings that our While on its face, that position does not “win” scenario for us. If the court held case was ‘academic’, Lifespan took steps to appear unreasonable, the problem was that the Crown was correct that s.14 only build up its cryonics response capacity in that it came with no assurance that the prohibited cryonics arrangements with order to infringe s.14 by explicitly offering government couldn’t simply change its explicit or implied representations about a cryonics arrangement in violation of the interpretation of the law in the future, as the likelihood of resuscitation, then even law. We had not initially wanted to approach

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 9 the challenge this way, as it exposed us to referenced several ‘milestone’ articles We are pleased with this outcome, and the possibility of being charged under the on whole-organ and brain vitrification are happy that the province eventually offence, but we were left with little choice. published over the last fifteen years by took the reasonable approach of providing At this time, Lifespan was operating on Greg Fahy, Brian Wowk, Yuri Pichugin, guidance on whether s.14 would be an (unpaid) volunteer basis with a limited and Robert McIntyre. I also pointed to the applied to responsible cryonics practices budget, and it needed to raise money to Scientist’s Open Letter on Cryonics, hosted by like those Lifespan aims to provide. We get cryonics equipment. The board voted the Institute for Evidence Based Cryonics. maintain that the practice of cryonics is a to invest some of the money left from the I think it is likely that the affidavit is protected exercise of our Charter rights to Life Extension Foundation grant into the what tipped the balance, prompting the life, liberty, and security of the person, but cryptocurrency bitcoin. Over the year that government to reconsider whether it could we also agree that it is a practice that can followed, the price of bitcoin doubled, so make a principled exception, and give us be reasonably regulated—as are both the under Carrie’s leadership, Lifespan sold its something of an “advance ruling” on what funeral and health services industries—to holdings and purchased an intermediate we were proposing to do. ensure that is not being practiced in a way cryonics response kit from Cryonics that is harmful or misleading to consumers. Institute. This was a significant purchase This is a big step forward in the ability for and enabled Lifespan to offer basic standby British Columbians to confidently enter response to its local members. The silver-lining in this into cryonics arrangements with both Our legal team (which now included local and out-of-province cryonics service Mr. Gratl’s associate, Toby Rauch-Davis) preliminary scuffle was providers. then amended our original claim to include observing how neither an executed agreement for cryonics services Final Thoughts, and Thanks between myself and Lifespan. We filed our the Crown nor the judge It was a long time getting here, and updated Notice of Civil Claim and awaited seemed inclined to many, many people were involved in this our day in court. Unfortunately, we were successful outcome – far too many to be not able to get a court date until February characterize our proposed named here. But we want very much for 2018, and then when February came cryonics activities as illegal... them all to know how much we appreciate around, the courts were overbooked, and their work and support (both moral and we were pushed back again. By this point, financial). My own special thanks go to Carrie was eight months pregnant and One other important part of the all Lifespan’s board members, past and simply hoping to have the matter resolved regulator’s position on the matter was present, and Carrie Wong, without whom before giving birth – but the next available that, for the moment, only a very small the endeavour could well have collapsed dates would not be until June. market in B.C. is interested in cryonics, under its own weight years ago. We hope However, the week before the trial and there is no evidence that it is being this turns a new chapter for cryonics in was to be heard in June, the government targeted at vulnerable persons. While that British Columbia, and that the Lifespan approached our lawyers with a peace does leave the door open for the regulator Society will be able to grow into its role as offering: a letter from Consumer Protection to reconsider the field in the future if the an extension of existing cryonics services B.C., the regulatory body tasked with cryonics market expands considerably, for providers such as Alcor and the Cryonics overseeing the funeral industry, and thus the time being, it grants us some peace of Institute, helping ensure that British enforcement of s.14. The letter laid out mind, and a sphere within which we can Columbians receive the immediate, high- the regulator’s position that it did not view establish a precedent of responsible, ethical quality standby and stabilization response Lifespan’s contract with me as being within cryonics practices. all of us hope to receive if and when the day its public interest mandate to investigate Following both our own feelings on the comes.  and prosecute. The letter is careful to note matter and the recommendation of our that a major part of the regulator’s opinion lawyers, we decided to accept this new in this case was based on the apparent level “comfort letter” and not pursue further of knowledge and understanding that I legal action, since the government clearly possess about the science behind cryonics, has no interest in prosecuting Lifespan’s and its prospects for success. current activities. Provided that future Interestingly, just days before our contracts between Lifespan and its members originally scheduled February hearing, I had are under similar circumstances — that is, drafted a lengthy affidavit explaining the ensuring that they are fully apprised of and scientific research which grounds my belief clearly understand the science informing that cryonics offers a possibility of future the practice — we do not foresee regulator resuscitation. In the affidavit, I explicitly interference in local cryonics cases.

10 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org https://www.alcor.org/T2-10-2019-details.pdf ORDER Preserving Minds, NOW! Saving Lives The Best Cryonics Writings of The Alcor Life Extension Foundation

“Cryonics magazine introduced me to Alcor and cryonics at its best back in 1983. The visions and technological breakthroughs that you will read about in this book continue to shape Alcor’s mission to preserve life through science.” – Max More, Ph.D. President and CEO of Alcor

ryonics is an experimental medical procedure that Cuses ultra-low temperatures to put critically ill people into a state of metabolic arrest to give them access to medical advances of the future. Since its inception in the early 1960s, the practice of cryonics has moved from a theoretical concept to an evidence-based practice that uses emergency medical procedures and modern vitrification technologies to eliminate ice formation.

Preserving Minds, Saving Lives offers an ambitious collection of articles about cryonics and the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. From its humble beginnings in 1972, and its first human cryonics patient in 1976, Alcor has grown to a professional organization with more than 1,000 members, more than 150 human patients, and more than 60 pets, all awaiting a chance to be restored to good health and continue their lives.

This book presents some of the best cryonics writings from Cryonics magazine from 1981 to 2012. There are clear expositions of the rationale behind cryonics, its scientific validation, and the evolution of Alcor procedures. Also covered are repair and resuscitation scenarios, philosophical issues associated with cryonics, and debates within the cryonics community itself.

Soft Cover Edition: $20 – Hard Cover Edition: $35 To order your copy, go to: www.alcor.org/book or call 1-877-GO ALCOR (462-5267) Bring in a new member and save a year of dues!

embership growth has been slowly accelerating since bottoming out in 2013. But we would benefit from faster Mgrowth. Alcor is now at a point where we could enjoy considerable economies of scale: We could manage many more members with minimal or no increase in staffing costs. That would enable us toreduce membership dues while building up our resources. A modest acceleration in membership growth would move us into a virtuous circle where growth enables reductions in dues which further spurs membership growth. Growth will also make it easier to hire highly skilled people in medical and technical areas.

The most effective way to bring in new members has been through direct encouragement by existing members. Many of us realize this, but may not make it a priority to nudge our friends a little more to sign up and potentially save their lives. How can we spur more members to gently persuade those they care about to move ahead with making cryonics arrangements? Perhaps some financial incentive will help.

Anyone who is primarily responsible for getting a new member to sign up will, at their request, be given a one- year waiver of membership dues.

For an existing member to receive the dues waiver, they must (a) be credited by the person who has signed up; (b) ask for the waiver; (c) not be otherwise profiting from the signup; (d) wait until the new member has completed all essential cryopreservation paperwork and has paid at least six months of dues; and (e) the new member must not be a member of their family. If the member signs up two new members, they are eligible for a two-year waiver of dues. If the new member is a student, the existing member is eligible for a waiver of six months of dues.

Who do you know who could do with some encouragement to sign up? Please, give it some thought, then help yourself and help the organization by helping to stimulate membership growth. Bring in one new member per year, and you will never pay dues again!

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 13 Member Profile Russell Cheney

By Nicole Weinstock

Two thumbs up on the exquisite mountain trail of an ultramarathon.

’m a terrified driver,” he laughs, was a full-time Mom during the Trona enjoyed the fact that wherever she took me this former driving instructor and years, except for one summer when she and she could set me down anywhere under current owner-resident of a very Thomas left their three kids with a nanny any circumstances and I would entertain “Imobile motorhome. Humorous, to be sure, at a beach community so they could be myself… I remember she used to tell me he is a devoted adventurer, running geek, travelling photographers. to ‘be a good boy,’ and I pondered what former gymnast, and family man. He is that meant for years and years, and finally an Alcor member of nearly 30 years and decided that a good boy was a kid who one of just a handful of cryonicists who didn’t bug their parent,” laughs Russell. His volunteered to support one of Alcor’s first fascination with the otherwise mundane emergency response teams. Meet Russell was a parental relief growing up, but would Cheney. later form the basis for his cryonicism as an adult. Desert beginnings Russell was born in Trona, a small mining town in Southern California, about three The family’s teardrop trailer, boasting hours northeast of Los Angeles en route a small darkroom within. to Death Valley. At the time of his birth in 1941, the town was virtually owned and operated by the American Potash and Chemical Corporation (AP&CC), a large They followed rodeos all over the chemical manufacturer that mined raw country, creating iconic images of cowboys materials from Searles Lake east of town. A roping, riding and flying off their bucking dry lake bed, Searles Lake was abundant in horses and bulls, perfectly frozen in midair. the gray evaporite mineral trona, known for It was a special bonding opportunity for its role in the manufacture of soda ash and Russell’s parents, who Russell credits for baking soda. Unsurprisingly, the Mojave their pivotal role in nurturing their close- Desert town of Trona was rather extreme knit family. “They got along terrifically,” he in climate; however, its desert topography says. “They were always the essential core of seeded Russell’s remarkable appreciation the family.” for nature at an early age. As of 2018, he When the Trona summers ended, the has explored over 385 U.S. National Park Cheneys all traded in their coastal and High Service sites. Sierra views for business-as-usual back in Russell’s father, Thomas Cheney, was the Mojave. Though many youngsters grow the superintendent of the Trona Unified distressed at the prospect of being separated Eleanor, Russ, and Ken in Trona, c. School District, overseeing all things from their parents for months at a time, mid 1940s. Photo by Thomas Cheney, scholastic from elementary grades through it wasn’t a great hardship for Russell, who professional press camera, on tripod. high school. His wife, Eleanor Cheney, was the envy of most parents. “[My Mom]

14 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org When the Cheneys first moved to Trona, intensive. “The best opportunity to see my did he score the most points of anyone on the school district was undergoing immense dad was to work at the driving school,” his team in both his junior and senior years, growth and change. It was the perfect time says Russell, who joined his brother Ken but he also held the highest GPA amongst for someone like Mr. Cheney to start as in helping at the business whenever they his lettered teammates. superintendent. “He was very calm, very could. It wasn’t long before Russell became When it came time for college, Russell methodical, extremely intelligent, and very a licensed instructor for students hoping to tried a few different directions. “I think I charismatic,” says Russell with pride. By become licensed to drive standard cars as ended up attending six different universities 1948, several years into Mr. Cheney’s tenure well as semi-trucks and trailers. According and colleges. And I had five different as superintendent, district infrastructure to his dad, he was the youngest truck majors.” At one point, feeling inspired had been established and systems were driving instructor in the state of California, to attend his brother and father’s alma stable. The allure of problems awaiting earning his certification at age 18. mater, he applied to the UCLA School of resolution had subsided in his small town If truck driver stereotypes are truthful in Engineering. He was accepted, but later while opportunity sang sweetly from the depicting a certain inattention to fitness and concluded that the study was not for him. nearby metropolis of Los Angeles. Change intellect, then Russell was quite the deviant. “It was the worst year of my life,” says was imminent, as Mr. and Mrs. Cheney, With the mentorship and coaching of his Russell, who eventually settled into a B.S. Russell, his older brother Ken, and their older brother Ken, who himself competed in Social Sciences from California State younger sister Coni, all relocated to Los on the prestigious UCLA gymnastics team, Polytechnic University, Pomona. Angeles, living a year with grandparents Russell became quite the academic-gymnast Have you ever been told by someone before relocating to Eagle Rock. at Eagle Rock High School. “It was really that they could never be a cryonicist due to my brother that I was able to do because they wouldn’t know anybody in Driving and tumbling gymnastics,” he admits. Russell’s best event the future? Russell experienced a similar Eagle Rock was, and still is, a neighborhood was parallel bars, but he also competed in situation when spending his junior year in sandwiched between Pasadena and vault, pommel horse, and rings. Not only France with the California State Overseas Glendale just northeast of downtown LA. It Study Program. When he arrived he knew was named after a prominent rock with an nobody and could barely speak, read or eagle-shaped shadow. Though it’s become understand a word of French. After the quite the hip destination over the years, it academic year, he spent the summer of ‘64 was then mostly known for being home to exploring 14 European countries with his Occidental College, a small private liberal siblings. He realized by the end that it had arts institution. Mrs. Cheney oversaw the amounted to a great learning experience rental of one of their Hill Drive home’s that serendipitously primed him for a rooms to various “Oxy” students, on top cryonics journey into an unknown future. of working her office job, and being Mom, Russell later graduated with his MBA while her husband managed the driving in Operations Research and Statistics from school with his two brothers. California State University, Long Beach.

A running start Close family was, and still is, very important to Russell. Five years after he received his MBA, he and his wife Diane gave birth to their son, Bradley, and two years later, their daughter Chrissy. Russell stays connected to the past— and intends to do the same post-revival— through a collaborative family history project with his brother, Ken. The other thread that connects those years to now, is the simplest exercise known to man: running. Ken, Coni, and Russ pose at their Hill Russell is now a passionate endurance Drive in Eagle Rock, c. early 1950s runner who has completed not just a marathon, but an ultramarathon (50K Like any small business endeavor, or greater), in every U.S. state, and running the school was quite time- Russell on parallel bars, c. 1955. Washington D.C.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 15 was his very first back in 1990. The Boston which attracts notable attendance from Marathon, which he has run three times, some of Japan’s best runners, took place was one of the most prestigious. And the on an especially humid and hot day. “I 2014 Maui Marathon was the one that felt like I was under no pressure to do that marked the completion of his personal goal particular marathon quickly,” said Russell, to run at least one marathon in every state. hoping to make the best of Mother Nature, He anticipated that victory in advance, “so I didn’t. I just cruised along. I enjoyed but Maui had another memorable myself...I spent most of the marathon milestone in store for him. The marathon, chatting with other runners from another part of the world,” he laughs. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe a carefree attitude goes farther than we think, because that day he finished first in his age division. Russell says jokingly, “I’ve never wanted to question it too deeply for concern that there was a mistake somewhere!” Russell recently finished an ultramarathon in Connecticut, which marked the completion of his personal goal to run an ultramarathon in every state. A man who thrives on challenge, I for one look forward Russ cradles his daughter Chrissy after to hearing about his next life goal. a fast delivery on May 16, 1974. The Alcor Southern You’d never know that he struggled to California Emergency complete just a couple of pain-free miles Response Team when he first started out. Though Russell Outside of running, Russell demonstrated a had always been enthusiastic about running similar brand of endurance throughout his for all its health benefits, he lacked much career. He designed and programmed large of the theory, technique, and camaraderie business computer application systems for supporting more regular runners. 35 years. Over an 11-year period, he also “My running was very very dependent taught related subjects at UCLA Extension on my son Bradley,” says Russell, “because and community college. While he was very I didn’t know how to get started.” Bradley grateful to support his family through this had joined the cross-country team at high vocation, it was not his most deep-seated school, coming home with helpful running desire in the end. “That’s what cryonics has tips and training approaches. Russell been for me... I wasn’t able to pursue that put this newfound knowledge to the test interest to the depth that I wanted to until and was delighted by the results. “I can I retired, which was 1995.” remember the first time I was able to run Russell was first introduced to cryonics two miles without injury,” he says with in the ’80s. He was researching different glee. “I was just overwhelmed. I was so approaches to longevity when he decided thrilled. I was so happy. Two miles without to volunteer for research at the UCLA being injured.” Medical Center. He met a Dr. Steve Harris Now that Russell is more than 400 there, who lent him Eric Drexler’s Engines marathons into his running passion, one of Creation. Shortly thereafter, with the help must inevitably wonder what his favorite of Carlos Mondragon, Russell finalized his among them might be. While Russell decision and became an Alcor member. explains that there are simply too many Though he encountered cryonics in his factors—weather, organization, food, 40s, Russell had long been primed for this water, the course itself—to pinpoint an movement. He was, as you may recall, an overall favorite, he does admit to certain Number 502, Russell crosses easygoing child by his mother’s description, races feeling more significant than others. the finish line sporting running largely because he was so effortlessly sandals, which he swears by. The Los Angeles Marathon, for example, captivated by the world around him. “To

16 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org me, the universe is a place of incredible wonders that continues to expand as human knowledge expands.” Wonder is a double- edged sword however, as many cryonicists can attest. “One of my concerns—and I can remember worrying about this when I was a little kid—was that there were so many fascinating things to do in the world that it seemed like there wasn’t enough time...That, and the fact that people had to die. Those two things just seemed very very worrisome.” Upon retirement, an opportunity to make a significant contribution to efforts addressing that worry arose: Alcor offered members the chance to take a week-long intensive training course to assist in its local emergency response teams. Russell signed up immediately. It targeted precisely the phase of cryopreservation where he saw the greatest potential for improvement. “There are a whole series of things that need to go right to give the best chance The motorhome (left) became the Alcor Southern California Crambulance for several years. for an individual to be revived from cryopreservation in the future...especially pauses in thought. “That was like a turning 28 classes, creating and maintaining several the steps leading up to the individual point in my life...I was totally blown technical manuals “with the indispensable arriving at Alcor Central in Scottsdale. away by [Linda’s] enthusiastic energy, assistance of Hugh Hixon” he so humbly Once they arrive in Scottsdale, [the patient] by her unbelievable intelligence, by her notes, that covered the Thumper Heart- is in a pre-established environment,” amazing quickness. We sat and talked for Lung Machine, setting IVs, the Ambu explains Russell. This removes many of the hours about my recommendation list, CardioPump, and DuaLogR temperature unknowns and surprises that make the field and it was like, every single point, she recording. He also updated and rewrote portion of cryopreservation so challenging. got it. She understood and she asked the Alcor’s basic team member Emergency Needless to say, Russell was on cloud penetrating questions about everything... Response Cryotransport Manual of 60- nine during the emergency response We were building on each other’s plus pages, and created the 79-page training, boning up on his anatomy and concepts.” Linda went on to apply many management-oriented Cryonics Regional physiology knowledge as well as practical of these same concepts to the development Operations Manual. medical skills. What with his formal of a nationwide emergency response team In addition to direct services like the background in business operations and of over 50 members, a feat which Russell aforementioned, Russell also advanced pedagogy, he was brimming with ideas on is still proud to think on today. Linda, of the team’s efforts by providing valuable how to improve the class for later iterations. course, had been involved with analogous resources, like his personal motorhome, “I was,” he laughs, “very opinionated about ideas since her and Fred’s creation of Alcor which was transformed into the how to teach things.” But the instructor, in the early ’70s. immediately-accessible crambulance, his Tanya Jones, took Russell and his opinions As for Russell, he volunteered with the three-car garage, which became the team’s quite seriously, and provided him with the Southern California Team for nearly eight trusty equipment workshop, and his home, resources to work for several days on course years (six as their full-time Coordinator), a frequent location of Alcor meetings and recommendations right there in Scottsdale. participating in 30 days of standby and training workshop sessions. Shortly thereafter, Russell received a call close to 15 cryopreservations. In the from a very intrigued Linda Chamberlain, latter capacity, often with the guidance On being Born Free who had taken over Tanya’s role in leading of senior staff, he stepped into the role of In 2004, Russell purchased a 24' Born Alcor’s national emergency response surgical scrub nurse, “crambulance” (the Free motorhome. He has driven it through capability. She came across his class cryonics ambulance) operator, medications all states, with the obvious exception of recommendation materials in the process and CPR administrator, circulating Hawaii, which he managed by cruise. This and requested a face-to-face get-together. nurse, photographer, runner, and general mobile lifestyle helps feed Russell’s inner “That meeting to me was so…” Russell assistant to the team. Russell also taught explorer. He has visited nearly 400 national

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 17 create some kind of comprehensive system that addresses the storage challenges unique to cryonics. “The problem is that for most contemporary technical people involved, storage means a month or two. Really really long term storage might be a year... That doesn’t even begin to address what we think is most appropriate for cryonicists.” He adds, “Maybe we could make it part of the mission of Alcor to not just have salt mines for personal information but to have very much greater, broader, deeper storage somehow available to all this personality information.” 

If you are interested in contacting Russell to discuss personality documentation, asset preservation, the wonders of running sandals, or more, he invites you to please email him at [email protected].

Scoping birds, one of Russell’s favorite hobbies. park sites in his lifetime, the bulk of them platforms and companies like Terasem, during the Born Free years. He is also a CyBeRev, and LifeNaut. His findings passionate birder, who has documented underscore the fact that there are many seeing over 680 species within the mainland different methodologies and tools out U.S., and more than 105 species in Hawaii. there for developing and storing personal Being positioned to move at the drop histories. Russell hopes to integrate or of a hat allows Russell the opportunity to break up his marathons, ultramarathons, and nature expeditions with family visits. “I love my family,” says Russell, who is now the proud grandfather of four, as well as uncle to several terrific nieces and nephews. Contributing to cryonics is an enduring priority in Russell’s life. As before, he continues to focus on ways to improve regional operations. “I very very strongly believe that it would strengthen Alcor in critical areas if everybody involved in decision-making positions at and related to Alcor was trained for and had at least a minimal level of field experience. Certainly a majority of the Alcor Board of Directors should be so experienced.” He also provides support to asset preservation projects beyond the act of cryopreservation, most currently those focused on the formation of effective trusts, and personality documentation. In Diane, Thomas, Brad, Coni, Chrissy, and Russ in 1990. his pursuit of the latter, he has researched

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Cryonics Newsletters: Some Historical Highlights, Part 3, Cryonics Society of California By R. Michael Perry

or part 3 of our multipart series For some Nelson was a fraud and who advocated freezing bodies at death on cryonics newsletters we look at charlatan for his failures and his initial to revive them someday, when techniques publications of the Cryonics Society secretiveness about his operations, while had advanced. Huh? The article went on to Fof California (CSC). Here there is much others were more sympathetic and mention a man, Robert Ettinger, who had less material, overall, than in the case of forgiving, given the circumstances. (The written a book, The Prospect of Immortality, the Life Extension Society (LES) or the latter position I’ve come to favor, agreeing which served as a kind of underpinning Cryonics Society of New York (CSNY). with Robert Ettinger and Nelson’s close for the whole venture. Intrigued, Bob with This, however, is an advantage of sorts since associate in later years, Kenneth Bly. some difficulty got a copy of the book, it will allow more in-depth focus on what Nelson, I believe, had good intentions, but read it, and was hooked: “It is difficult to we do have. (It is possible that additional also certain shortcomings which, coupled describe my reaction to Professor Ettinger’s newsletters beyond what is in the author’s with the adverse circumstances, including book – so much potential, so much hope collection were issued, though it appears to the lack of funding, led to the disaster that was contained between the covers of this be complete. But please contact me, mike@ occurred and much bitterness afterward. astounding book. For the first time I could alcor.org, if you think you have any. – RMP.) Much was learned from his and others’ see a bright light at the end of the tunnel of CSC was headed by Robert F. Nelson, failures, and the cryonics movement is my existence, and the warmth of this light a controversial figure. (Nelson also used stronger now as a consequence.) In any was very comforting indeed.” his adoptive father’s surname of Buccelli case, we shall see that the CSC newsletter By this time Evan Cooper had established outside of cryonics.) A gifted talker and coverage, though scanty compared to that a small branch of his Life Extension Society energetic organizer, Nelson became a hero of LES and CSNY, still has much of interest, in the area (greater Los Angeles).2 In May in cryonics for staging what is usually with some things left partly unsaid which 1966 there was a meeting at the home of considered the first true cryopreservation can be further elaborated and clarified from Helen Kline, a warm-hearted, middle-aged of a human for later revival, the freezing outside sources. cryonics activist who would soon have of James Bedford in January 1967. Later, serious health issues. Nelson attended, however, he gained notoriety for the Background met with other activists, impressed failure of his cryonics operation and Bob Nelson in his writings tells an engaging them in turn with his enthusiasm and loss of patients at its cemetery facility in tale of how he first encountered cryonics.1 communication skills. A few months later, Chatsworth, California. (Bedford had long The year was 1965, and he was estranged Curtis Henderson and Saul Kent from before been moved to another location and from his wife and staying with a friend in CSNY were passing through, as part of is now a patient at Alcor, the only one of a plush California apartment complex that their effort to help organize cryonics groups the patients of either CSC or CSNY whose had a swimming pool. At poolside one day throughout the country. The upshot was to cryopreservation continues today.) This was he was engaged with other young bathers start the Cryonics Society of California as in the 1970s when funding for cryonics of opposite gender, when the apartments a chapter of CSNY, with Robert Nelson was meager, funding policies primitive, manager, another young woman (was she as president. As part of CSNY, and later a and commitments uncertain, particularly jealous?) was holding a newspaper, telling standalone, CSC was distinct from LES, for relatives whose continuing payments him he ought to read this. She wouldn’t whose presence continued in the area. As were needed for maintaining the cryogenic go away, so Bob took the paper in hand 1966 drew to a close, the stage was set for storage of their loved ones. and read about some bunch of people CSC to begin issuing its own newsletter.3

20 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org First Issue, January 1967 formation—Saul Kent and Curtis and others whose experience will Henderson of the Cryonics Society provide clarification of all interrelated of New York, who have given so problems. generously of their time in touring the Although this edition of CRYONICS country and establishing not only our REPORTS is published by Cryonics of group, but Cryonics of Michigan and California – and is mainly concerned were instrumental in the formation with reportage of those events taking of Cryonics of France. Working from place on the West Coast – we will the foundation established by them, keep readers up-to-date on the we hope to contribute equally to the national and world-wide status of the continued growth of the freezing freezing program with the publication movement. of stimulating, provocative articles Cryonics of California is closely and interviews by the most eminent associated with the Life Extension men in the field, as well as detailed Society and all CSC members accounts of current developments and automatically become LES members experiments taking place—wherever upon joining. The Life Extension they may happen to take place. Society is mainly concerned with Before ending this opening obtaining and disseminating message, I would like to make a information on cryogenic interment suggestion: After you finish reading The first issue of the CSC newsletter, and has done a magnificent job in this issue of CRYONICS REPORTS, titled Cryonics Reports of California, is this area under its able president, pass it on to a friend. Today we are dated January 1967 and contains seven Evan Cooper. The Cryonics Society a small group of pioneers whose corner-stapled, letter-sized pages of will occupy itself mainly with providing efforts are largely ridiculed, just as double-column, typewritten text with facilities for freezing, the training the efforts of those with new and even right margins, without illustrations. of members in related emergency startling ideas have continually been It appeared in December 1966 or possibly techniques, and any and all other ridiculed throughout history. But, as late November, since a coming event is aspects pertaining to the HERE our numbers grow, and more and announced for December 17. There is no AND NOW of cryogenic interment, more people become involved in the mention of the freezing of James Bedford including the recruitment of doctors freezing program, those who malign – it hadn’t happened yet. It opens, however, and scientists in related fields us and what we work for will no longer with a rousing message by the CSC whose knowledge and experience be able to turn a deaf ear. president, Nelson, which is worth quoting. will serve to clarify the mechanics (Longer quotations throughout this article of freezing, and provide us with new are in arial typeface; editorial adjustments and improved techniques through are in square brackets [] and roman type. research programs—stimulated PRESIDENT I’ve also used very minimal editing in – and, where possible, provided – quotations, silently correcting misspellings through the joint efforts of Cryonics Next in the newsletter is a report of a visit or typos. – R.M.P.):4 Societies throughout the world and of Robert Ettinger, “the man who started it A MESSAGE FROM THE the Life Extension Society. all,” November 11-14, 1966.5 Ettinger on PRESIDENT... All CSC members are expected his visit first spoke at UCLA to a group of This first issue of CRYONICS to enforce their own desires for graduate medical students on the related REPORTS – emanating from the cryogenic interment. As suggested subjects of freezing and super-cooling, newly formed Cryonics Society of by the Cryonics Society of New York, enthusiastically commending someone in California – truly marks a milestone we propose that the individual sign an the audience who thought Ettinger was in the cryogenic interment movement. affidavit stating his desire to be frozen, maybe a bit overly pessimistic as “more No longer a potpourri of disparate and granting absolute control and optimistic than I am.” Ettinger during the groups, we have evolved into a possession of his body to whomever visit also made radio and TV appearances, unified, broad-based international he feels will most effectively carry out spoke to religious groups, and met with Dr. organization whose collective efforts the process of cryogenic interment; Dante Brunol who would direct some early will hasten the realization of cryogenic then, proceed to make his own freezings. interment NOW – for those of us legal, professional (i.e., consultation Later in the issue is a profile of Dante throughout the world with a far-seeing with the doctor of his choice), and Brunol (actual name: Mario Dante Bruno- eye into the future. financial arrangements, ideally, via Lena), who was an experimental physician Before proceeding to set down the the proceeds of a life insurance and biophysicist.6 He is mainly remembered objectives of Cryonics of California, policy placed in trust. In future issues, in cryonics for devising the first protocol it is necessary first to give credit to we will offer articles by lawyers, for cryopreserving a human being for those gentlemen responsible for its insurance experts, estate planners hoped-for revival and for his role in two

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 21 of the earliest human cryopreservations, those of James Bedford (January 1967) and Marie Phelps-Sweet (August-September 1967).7 In the profile Brunol is compared in his dedication to Einstein. Some of his own views are then presented, quoted from a recent letter to Ettinger. Brunol starts by noting that experimentation with human subjects presents a moral issue not present with animal models, then focuses on the central issue with cryopreservation, protection of the brain.7 “What freezing mixtures should be used? At what temperatures? Should we use freezing mixtures of higher temperature but of insufficient protective action? Should I advise a freezing mixture that is the best according to my present judgement? Is the compression of the chest sufficient to keep the brain alive so that we could manage without From left, Joseph Sittler, Dick Jones. To Sittler (1904-1987) to survive to the future through such a method as cryopreservation seemed “an exalted form of madness.” freezing mixtures?” Jones (1931-1988) wanted to “exist in the future” and is now cryopreserved at Alcor. ...”These are the questions which torture my brain and do not let me sleep.” […] School, reanimation of human beings up in the future. Maybe the future is The article closes with a tribute to Brunol’s after years in a freezer sounds like an his historical setting! Maybe he’s been dedication and a hope of future success, ‘exalted form of madness,’ based on prevented from being in his historical which would occur even without him. a dangerous and ‘radically nonhistoric setting up to now. And why is freezing Because of Dr. Brunol’s dedication concept of what a human life is.’ Man, ‘extracting’ him? Yes, he may be in – his total commitment – these says Sittler, is a ‘profoundly historical a coma for many years, but he still questions will be answered... by him, being,’ and to extract him from his exists – he still lives, he has merely or by others based on the results of historical setting is to destroy him. been suspended. […] what if I want to his research and his soul-searching. Reanimation could bring living death exist in the future? Dante Brunol spends sleepless nights to man, not salvation from oblivion. A further item of interest is an so that we may awaken—in the future. “He calls it a ‘form of madness,’ but announcement of an upcoming meeting, Another cryonics activist of a very evidently he believes it possible—he to be held Dec. 17 as noted earlier (this different sort was Dick (Richard Clair) thinks it ‘mad’ not because of scientific helping to bracket the appearance of this Jones who was the corresponding secretary objections to freezing and thawing, issue). Robert Nelson, Dante Brunol, and of CSC. Jones, under the stage name Dick but because the thawed person won’t Robert Prehoda were to appear.9 Clair, would go on to a successful career be happy when he comes to. So the As many of you may recall, until in show business as a television producer, man is recommending letting people presently Mr. Prehoda had long been actor, and television and film writer, die so that they won’t have to face an considered the leader of the friendly winning Emmy awards and becoming unpleasant life. Isn’t this euthanasia? opposition to our program. Certainly wealthy, though at this point he only had How does he know about the future? differences of opinion will always modest means. (His interest in cryonics He says, ‘sounds like –’ To which one exist within the healthy climate of the would continue in spite of CSC’s later wants to reply: Oh, well, then, Sittler, scientific community, but, as the late failure; today he is a patient at Alcor.) in that case pardon me – if it doesn’t John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural The newsletter quotes Jones answering sound right to you, I’ll be glad to lie address, “Let both sides explore criticisms of the cryonics idea that appeared down and die. Yes, it is a ‘radically what problems unite us instead of in a Time magazine article, with the greater non-historic concept’ – you’re right – belaboring those problems which part devoted to Joseph Sittler’s fears of the we’re talking about immorality, you divide us”... and, as one examines deep alienation and even “destruction” of see. Hasn’t happened before. Glad Prehoda’s conceptual approaches, the original person that “must” accompany you caught that.” there is much that unites us. their return to consciousness after Jones is rather firmly dismissive of In all, CSC seemed off to a fine start with dormancy that may last for centuries.8 Sittler’s claim that “to extract a man from their new newsletter, granted that other, “To Theologian Joseph Sittler of his historical setting is to destroy him” and established cryonics-related publications, the University of Chicago Divinity counters: Maybe it’ll be joyous to wake those of CSNY and LES, were of greater

22 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org length and more thorough coverage. The for in-house publication. The opening evolutionary standpoint, are natural CSC newsletters say nothing about the paragraph clarifies the nature and perceived hibernators. Some scientists have freezing of Bedford, nor of the next freezing, importance of the topic and the intended expressed doubt that man will be that of Marie Phelps-Sweet, starting in approach:10 able to achieve complete suspended August 1967, even though it too was a “Reduced Metabolism” is a animation. Many of these negative CSC undertaking and both happenings are collective term for all of the various evaluations were made before well-recorded in the publications of CSNY means of slowing down the rate – or the publication of some recent and LES. Exactly why the organization speed – of biological processes in breakthroughs (described in this did not herald these two important events cells, organs and whole animals. Life report). in their own history is unclear; perhaps it processes can be slowed by lowering So what sort of “recent breakthroughs” was felt that the coverage of the other two the temperature, or through highly are “described in this report” and convey organizations, with contributions from specific biochemical reactions that such optimism that reversible suspended CSC, would be adequate and more would slow metabolic activity by chemical animation would be possible within a few “overdo it.” In any case, the next issue of the interference. The purpose of this years? Prehoda offers a multipage tour de CSC newsletter would be unique. report is to outline, for the intelligent force, summarizing the findings under reader, the present status and future four headings. First there is hibernation Second Issue promise of the various scientific and hypothermia, in which cooling is to disciplines and specific research above-freezing temperature. Next, super- investigations that collectively promise hypothermia uses cooling below freezing to make reduced metabolism an area but still at relatively high temperature. of potential revolutionary impact in the Then there is cryobiology, in which cooling next few years. is much below freezing, to the cryogenic In fact Prehoda tells us the time is near range (dry ice temperature and below). when suspended animation (reversible Finally comes chemical anabiosis, in which placement of an organism, including preservation is by chemical means rather human, in biostasis or a state of arrested than low temperature. While we expect this metabolism) will be a reality, provided material from more than 50 years ago to be research is diligently pursued. dated and “old news” by now, in fact much There are no theoretical barriers of it seems eerily still relevant. For we have to achieving complete suspended to acknowledge that progress has not been animation of humans for indefinite as rapid as enthusiasts like Prehoda himself periods of time. With sufficient estimated. Much in the way of basic results emphasis and funding support, (human hibernation, reversible biostasis, scientists should be able to achieve et cetera) is still to be achieved; so we can suspended animation sometime still benefit from Prehoda’s summaries and during the 1970s. projections. The second issue of the CSC newsletter, So soon? Prehoda elaborates some reasons Hibernation and hypothermia.11 with title simplified slightly to Cryonics for optimism. Many animals hibernate, Prehoda first reminds us that hibernation, of California, appeared on schedule, one so it should be possible to extend this while not true suspended animation, does month after the first. An artist-signed capability to humans, particularly in view at least offer a first approximation, with cover shows what could be a futuristic of some recent progress. Other scientific strong protective effects. storage center with white-clad technicians goals formerly thought impossible are now A lethal dose of radiation or a adjusting knobs and taking notes while taken more seriously and research in these transplanted cancer will not kill an patients under reduced metabolism (not areas is massively funded, sometimes with animal during the long months of full cryopreservation) slumber in bedlike startling successes. The space program hibernation. Only after the hibernation horizontal capsules, glass-windowed for is one example, with much progress in period will it die from the tumor or observation. Again the pages are letter-sized earth-orbiting vehicles. (This would soon radiation. and upper-left corner-stapled. Apart from culminate in a manned lunar landing, Humans might benefit from hibernation, the cover, the newsletter consists entirely of though still some two years away.) Fusion even if it cannot be extended indefinitely a 17-page, single-spaced, typewritten essay power was another promising area, with and even if brief periods of warming during by Robert Prehoda, “Reduced Metabolism: billions annually being spent by several the hibernation interval are necessary, as Present Research Status and Future governments, though practical success had with some natural hibernators. But humans Promise.” Prehoda, just noted, had recently not been achieved (nor has it yet, half a are not natural hibernators, though “animals changed his stance from opposition to a century later). reasonably close to man on the evolutionary limited support of the cryonics program, Knowledgeable scientists have tree” are. How to bridge the gap? Prehoda to the extent of generously supplying his always agreed that human hibernation has a ready answer: To duplicate natural essay, actually a draft scientific article (to is possible because many animals, hibernation, we must thoroughly be expanded into a book – see below), relatively close to man from an understand the combination of very

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 23 subtle balance changes in endocrine temperatures within two or three be inherently a very expensive hormones, key enzyme processes, degrees of the freezing point. Some technique requiring constant energy storage and utilization and species of Antarctic fish, called monitoring and periodic changes of synergistic interrelationships which “ice fish” have naturally achieved the synthetic life-preserving fluids. permit animal hibernation. Some recent this state. They have no red blood However, in time, automated patient- breakthroughs with chemical anabiosis cells, and live out their lives at zero monitoring techniques could reduce (see below) should be relevant; meanwhile centigrade temperatures, apparently “maintenance costs.” Prehoda is optimistic about some work of a using hyperbaric dissolved oxygen. High pressure could be useful as an colleague, Dale L. Carpenter, and himself, Super-hypothermia.12 Hypothermia alternative to chemical cryoprotection in which nonhibernating mammals were is still at temperatures at or above freezing. or used in combination. Work of Soviet successfully recovered from below the But some organisms regularly endure scientist N. I. Kalabukhov is noted, in “fibrillation point,” 65-68° F, at which the temperatures well below this. which bats were kept alive for several days heart stops beating. The method involved Some insects are able to hibernate supercooled to temperatures of -5° to repeatedly cooling the animals, going at temperatures between ten and -7° C, without formation of ice crystals. to a lower temperature each time, then forty degrees below the freezing point More research is needed. Tissue culture each time warming up to normal body by producing a biochemical “anti- cells supercooled through the use temperature. freeze” substance, glycerol, within of DMSO, ultrahigh pressures or a Prehoda then discusses work of Joseph W. their cells. Some arctic fish maintain combination of both lend themselves Still who developed an intubation system temperatures a few degrees below to inexpensive “proof-of-principle” based on miniaturized plastic cannulae for freezing by means of an unknown experiments. Such tissue culture cell adding and subtracting small amounts of natural “anti-freeze” substance. This experiments should also show to what fluid from small mammals that were not process of going below the freezing extent diffusion may present a time natural hibernators. Success with artificial point without ice crystal formation is limitation on long term supercooling. hibernation is not reported, but when called “supercooling,” and the author The section closes on a further note achieved with small mammals it should has proposed that extended research of optimism, offering that “it should serve as a stepping-stone to similar success on synthetic blood, artificial hearts, be possible to maintain a subject in a with larger creatures, including humans. and non-toxic antifreeze chemicals supercooled state for periods between six In addition there is hypothermia: within hyperbaric pressure chambers months and five years.” To do better than Hibernation must not be confused might eventually permit a form of that will require lower temperatures, in with hypothermia which is the well- supercooled human hibernation other words, cryobiology. known medical process frequently (super-hypothermia) at temperatures Cryobiology.13 Prehoda notes steady used in surgery in which the body many degrees below the normal progress, over two or three decades, in the is artificially cooled. Moderate freezing point. Such a technique recovery from low-temperature storage, hypothermia, above the “fibrillation” should reduce oxygen and nutritional first of single cells, then larger tissue point is accomplished with simple ice requirements to less than one two- samples and whole mammalian organs. packing. To go to lower temperatures, hundredth of normal. As in natural (Exactly what temperatures are involved is sometimes a few degrees above hibernation, it might be necessary not clear, but presumably well below water freezing, the patient must be surgically every fifty or one hundred days ice temperature.) An early discovery that connected with a machine which to raise the subject’s temperature frog sperm treated with glycerol could be pumps and oxygenates the blood, to normal in order to maintain the recovered from deep, subfreezing cooling completely bypassing both the heart essential biochemical balances. led to many more encouraging results in less and lungs. One problem with very deep Super-hypothermia might be adapted to than two decades, and hopes of significant hypothermia in humans is improper human use, with profound consequences. clinical applications. oxygenation as blood cells become In time, continuously improved More generally, “cryobiology offers the sluggish moving through very fine super-hypothermia might permit tantalizing possibility of permitting man blood vessels (capillaries) in the body. life processes, including aging, to be indefinitely preserved in a state of This can be overcome by removing all to be slowed down one thousand suspended animation at extremely low blood cells and substituting “synthetic times, a condition which is naturally temperatures.” As usual, however, much blood” composed of a balanced salt achieved by some super-cooled work must be done. A striking result is then solution, glucose, and other essential insects. Already, dog kidneys have cited, the Suda cat brain experiment, which chemicals. Oxygen is supplied by been supercooled using dimethyl directly, if tentatively, supports the cryonics “hyperbaric” means in which the sulfoxide (DMSO) which is presently hypothesis: patient and heart-lung machine are the least toxic biological anti-freeze. Professor Isamu Suda at Kobe placed in a chamber where, at three These kidneys were maintained at Medical College, Ikutaku, Kobe, times normal atmospheric pressures, six degrees below freezing for long Japan, has reported that he has there is enough oxygen dissolved periods before they were re-implanted obtained a somewhat normal EEG in the synthetic blood to oxygenate in the dogs where they functioned from an isolated cat brain that was all the tissues of the body, even at normally. Super-hibernation would kept at a -20° C. temperature for 203

24 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org days. Suda surgically isolated the many of the most important advances directions for research. brain after carefully perfusing it with a in cryobiology. She has observed that Other possibilities are discussed, cooled salt balanced artificial solution “some simple new idea may be all that including use of xenon gas dissolved in with an adjusted colloidal pressure. is now needed to insure the full recovery an aqueous solution to modify ice crystal Glycerol was slowly added to the and completion of a normal life span by formation during freezing and further perfusion fluid so that the brain cells mammals which have been... frozen... reduce tissue damage. The section closes were protected with a 15% glycerol with deep body temperatures below on another optimistic note, quoting from solution. The brain was then slowly zero.” Therefore, it is important that a Dr. Richard C. Lillehei, who worked with cooled to -20° C., and maintained search be made by clever scientists for dog kidneys, that, with properly funded at that temperature for 203 days. new approaches to the protection of research programs, we can achieve the This brain was probably in a partially cells and organs during freezing, low freezing and thawing of experimental supercooled and partially frozen temperature storage, and thawing. animals before the present decade is state, perhaps a state on a small A major problem, particularly with a over. Then it is, of course, just a short scale that would resemble chips of large organism such as a human, is that step to humans. ice filling an alcoholic beverage on a cooling should be rapid to minimize any Chemical Anabiosis.14 There is an large scale. deterioration or other complications. alternative to suspended animation through Professor Suda believes that the tiny Audrey Smith thought about this problem, cryogenic means: to instead use chemical veins in the brain (the microcirculation) which might be amenable to a special means. Speculation on this concept do not properly reopen when blood flow perfusion protocol; funding would be began in Czarist Russia in 1912 when resumes after a circulation stoppage. needed for experiments. Prehoda then biologist P. Bakhmetyev coined the This, rather than oxygen lack, may offers some prescient thoughts on how the word “anabiosis”. A form of chemical account for the extreme sensitivity of desired goal of tissue vitrification might anabiosis appears to exist in nature. brain tissue to a temporary cessation be achieved using perfusates that remain Normally life processes are most of oxygenated blood. Suda believes liquid well below water ice temperature. active during embryonic development, that his perfusion technique keeps the The ideal cryobiological perfusate but at normal temperatures during the microcirculation open and that this is would be primarily composed of a embryonic development of certain the most important factor in the viability liquid that would not penetrate the species of fish, all biological functions of brain tissue stored at -20° C. cells and would have a very low are almost brought to a complete Suda’s re-warming technique freezing point allowing perfusion to standstill for periods up to one year. should be mentioned. The brain was be continued until all intra-cellular This is not hibernation because it happens slowly brought to 2° C. The glycerol water is in a vitrified state (which at normal body temperatures. was washed out over a 30-minute will require a suitable intra-cellular There has been serious period at that temperature, then fresh content of DMSO, glycerol or some speculation among scientists that cat blood with suitable additives was comparable substance offering biological processes can be brought perfused through the brain using a protection against freezing damage). to a standstill by injecting chemicals heart-lung machine. Good EEG’s At the present time, there are two called “anti-metabolites” into the were obtained at temperatures classes of chemical candidates that bloodstream of mammals. Anti- between 30° C. and 36° C. Suda is meet the theoretical qualifications. metabolites are compounds which the first scientist to attempt to maintain They are: 1) Silicone oils and, 2) liquid stop special (but not all) biochemical a complete mammalian brain at fluorocarbon compounds. There are reactions within the living cell. If an significantly low temperatures. actually a number of different silicone optimum mixture of anti-metabolites If his experiment can be and fluorocarbon compounds which could be found, it would be possible successfully repeated, it will provide may be suitable. They all must be to stop or greatly slow down many strong evidence that animals can tested for possible toxic effects. of the chemical activities which are be supercooled for long periods. Other prescient thoughts concern the involved in the aging process. Recent Modifications of Suda’s experiment idea of liquid ventilation for more rapid experiments (not yet completed) may show us how to successfully cooling of the subject (animal or human) in indicate that oxygen utilization in blood freeze and revive mammalian the early stages of cryoprotective perfusion. could be stopped by anti-metabolites brains. The next step would be Otherwise oxygenation of the tissues, and then started again by appropriate supercooling of entire animals desirable to protect against deterioration, antidotes, without injury to the animals followed by experiments attempting to typically occurs through air or other involved. Probably several types of successfully freeze and revive large gaseous breathing mixture administered anti-metabolites would be required mammals. Suda’s perfusion technique by chest compressions that induce artificial to reduce all the major activities should be very carefully studied as it breathing. Prehoda describes some pertinent to aging in cells, including is likely to confer protection in whole experiments with mice and cats showing anaerobic reactions using carbon animal perfusion. the viability of some versions of liquid dioxide in place of oxygen. Though Suda deserves much credit for ventilation (using fluorocarbon rather than A natural approximation of anabiosis his work, Dr. Audrey Smith has made silicone compounds) and suggests some has attracted some notice. Lung-fish

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 25 inhabiting African marshes survive long, expansion of small ice crystals during immortality on those with the courage dry summers by “aestivating.” This is a the phase change from liquid to solid. to “sleep away the years.” form of natural reduced metabolism, In fact there is an interdependence of Prehoda’s generally supportive stance on similar to hibernation but there is all reduced metabolism research so that cryonics unfortunately did not last for long no drop in body temperature. Large anti-metabolites may be the key to but soon turned markedly hostile, as we African lung-fish secrete a gelatinous chemical anabiosis without freezing, shall see. material which becomes a hardened and they may also be necessary in cocoon. Their metabolic rate falls suspended animation at cryogenic 1968 to 15% of normal, a state they can temperatures. Success will require an maintain for almost two years in the “across the board” acceleration of all tropics. It is obvious that metabolism research activities that have a direct is suppressed chemically, not by or indirect relationship to metabolic temperature. phenomena in animals. Prehoda notes some research in which Some possibilities for chemical anabiosis rats injected with extracts from African using super-hibernation techniques are lungfish experienced a 30-40% reduction discussed, including elimination of blood in oxygen uptake and CO2 production, cells. Chemical anabiosis might permit with only a slight decrease in body human suspended animation for temperature. Great promise is seen in this years, perhaps even decades, and it apparent breakthrough, in combination would be by far the least expensive of with other research, a starting point being all the alternate reduced metabolism to further determine the properties of the possibilities. It could be used for anti-metabolic agent or agents responsible. organ storage, and it would also Once the molecular structure of permit exotic surgery that would not these substances is identified, then be possible by any other means. changes in the molecular structure Revolutionary Potential.15 A stirring might permit even more significant paragraph near the end of the essay explores metabolic reduction than found in the possibility of indefinitely extended life nature. These biochemicals would through low-temperature storage: be extremely useful in many fields The person who would receive of biomedical investigation including the greatest benefit from suspended research in cancer, shock, fatigue, animation is one dying from an sleep, and the aging process. Such incurable disease, or in constant pain anti-metabolites could revolutionize from some crippling ailment such as the clinical treatment of high fever, arthritis. The doctors of some future trauma, heart failure, infection generation may be able to cure every and cerebral vascular accidents. disease, and people could be left in These would be benefits in addition a suspended state until a complete to permitting a form of human cure for their particular ailment is Robert Prehoda, chemist, reduced hibernation. Collectively they justify a perfected. Anyone burdened with the metabolism expert, and futurist, was significant research effort. cumulative deterioration of old age generally dismissive of cryonics, though An additional benefit could be to reduce would likewise benefit, for tomorrow’s sometimes showing limited support. freezing damage for cryogenically cooled advances in geriatrics may eliminate tissues, organs or organisms. If some senility and physical old age. It can be After the first two issues of the CSC biological damage is caused by ice seen that suspended animation would newsletter there is a long hiatus. There were crystals acting as catalysts when make any illness curable, for it would no standalone issues of a CSC newsletter in in physical contact with enzymes, make available the medical wonders 1968, but space was provided in the CSNY natural or synthetic anti-metabolites of the distant future to those suffering periodical, Cryonics Reports, for a “California may prevent the enzymes from being today. In times to come, people may Section” that reported news from CSC. This active in an environment of small be frozen until researchers leisurely section itself appears in only two issues, May growing ice crystals. Anti-metabolites learn to cure their maladies, at and June. The May issue starts with a notice may prevent other causes of freezing which time they could be revived of an imminent case, that of Helen Kline, damage. In fact, anti-metabolites, and cured. Delayed therapy cases who was then critically ill with cancer in used in association with cryobiological would probably make up the majority Los Angeles “and has requested that she be protective agents such as DMSO of people going into “cold sleep.” cryonically suspended.”16 may prevent all causes of biological Suspended animation coupled with Mrs. Kline, who was a major freezing damage except possible the maximum potentials of longevity influence in the formation and physical damage resulting from the could possibly confer potential early development of the California

26 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org Society, is in the intensive care unit of with others that approximate it but likely while she is still conscious, and with the a local convalescent hospital where have unwanted, “cultish” associations, like other CSC members. The cryopreservation she is under 24 hour observation. cryonic suspension or are vague and over- with cryoprotective perfusion appears to The California Society is currently inclusive like cryopreservation.) go very well for such early times, though attempting to raise funds to cover the Some later remarks refer to a newly- details are skimpy. (Sadly, though, Ms. expense of cryonic suspension for formed Cryonics Societies of America, an Kline’s cryopreservation did not endure; Mrs. Kline, who was unable to obtain attempt (ultimately futile) to unify the she was among those lost at Chatsworth, as appropriate insurance coverage. movement (several short paragraphs here noted later.)20 Mr. Russ Stanley, a longtime, active combined to one):19 local member, is deserving of special The Cryonics Society of California thanks for his very generous $500.00 is delighted to share in the pages of contribution. (Several paragraphs here Cryonics Reports, which, for the past combined to one.) 3 years, has been the primary voice There is an article by Marshall Neel, of the cryonic interment movement. a teacher of general semantics in the Los Our inclusion in this newsletter is in Angeles area who served as a publicity expert keeping with the role of Cryonics for the CSC and would later head Cryonics Reports as a major unifying force in Interment, Inc., a sister organization set the cryonics movement. And it is in up to handle long-term storage of cryonics harmony with the emphasis on unity patients (comparable to CryoSpan for of action implicit in the formation of CSNY). Noting that language “literally the Cryonics Societies of America. It shapes our reality,” Neel goes on to consider is only natural that Cryonics Reports the problem that new medical technology should evolve into a showcase for all poses in terms of our understanding of life of the cryonics societies. We hope Mrs. Roche, head nurse, after perfusion and death:17 that the other societies will follow suit of Helen Kline in May 1968. Currently we are witnessing a in taking advantage of this opportunity semantic struggle in medical-legal to speak from a common platform. areas over the definition of death. The June issue covers the freezing of 1969 We have introduced a new process Helen Kline, which occurred May 14 at the There were no further CSC newsletters whose reality conflicts with the old Burlington Convalescent Hospital in Los dated in 1968, whether as “inserts” in definitions. In transplanting kidneys, Angeles, with some moments of high drama. another periodical or as standalones. we did not engage a problem; once Disputes occur with a sister who at one Meanwhile there was an important we transplanted a heart, we faced an point tries to block the cryopreservation, development that would have an impact obsolete concept that life and death and a “friend,” Mrs. Sheff, who tries even on CSC and cryonics more generally: are connected to the heart as such. If harder, all to no avail with the generally two of the principal scientific supporters, the heart beats there is life. If the heart supportive and cooperative hospital staff. Brunol and Prehoda, ceased involvement.21 stops there is death. The medical A special rapport develops between Mrs. Prehoda, who had earlier been critical of profession, in transplanting hearts Roche, the head nurse, along with the rest the freezing program, ended his tentative from patients suffering irreparable of the nursing staff, and Helen Kline herself, support and again resumed his negative brain damage, seeks to change the stance, with more vehemence than ever. definition of death to “the cessation of His essay, so generously supplied to CSC brain waves.” for their newsletter, was expanded into This won’t do however, for “stopped a 1969 book, Suspended Animation: The brain waves have been restarted.” Research Possibility That May Allow Man to Something more comprehensive is needed, Conquer the Limiting Chains of Time. That particularly to handle the problem posed this might be construed as support for the by cryonics. Semantically, the whole existing (fledgling, beset with numerous dying process must be reevaluated in difficulties, and hard to keep going) terms of a newly developing capability cryonics movement is dispelled early on to suspend the living process, to turn (emphasis original):22 once-irrevocable death into extended During the past five years, the anabiotic pause. Neel proposes a new public has been cruelly misled by a term, cryogenesis, “to describe the low- pseudo-scientific cult which proclaims temperature process of reducing the that suspended animation is possible metabolic rate of living tissue indefinitely today, that people should be frozen for later restoration to viability.” (The Helen Kline, early California when they die. There is absolutely term exists in the lexicon today, but has cryonics activist, 1966. no scientific evidence to support this other meanings,18 and we must make do ludicrous proposal, and one principal

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 27 purpose of this book is to completely refute the claims of the “freeze-now” fanatics. Hopefully, readers will be persuaded not to waste their funds on cryogenic interment – money which should go to the families of the deceased or to research. (The book includes a chapter, “The Lunatic Fringe” attempting to argue that cryonics is unworkable and pseudo- scientific. For a rebuttal of this and subsequent, similar criticism, see [23].) Life for the CSC went on, however, with other scientific support, and for the

Young photos of Russ Stanley, left, and Rosario Coco. According to Robert Nelson, “Rosario thought cryonics was ridiculous, but he respected Russ’s wishes [to be cryopreserved] and fulfilled them the best he could.”

start of 1969 they offered a newly-titled, so could only participate by telephone.26): newly-numbered newsletter called Cryonics The cryonic suspension of Russ Review, with a named editor, Paul Porcasi. Stanley is a major milestone for the (Actually the issue appeared in November CSC for two very significant reasons. the previous year, though postdated.24) The Russ is the first suspended patient to newsletter had a different format, a saddle- have made truly adequate personal stitched booklet with sheets folded to half- preparations ahead of time, and... letter-size pages, similar to CSNY’s Cryonics Russ is the first patient suspended Reports. An explanation is offered in this by the CSC without assistance, first issue (Jan. 1969) for why they are now coordination, or leadership normally a standalone publication:25 provided by the President of the CSC, First issue of Cryonics Review. [W]e wish to thank Cryonics Robert F. Nelson. The significance of Society of New York for allowing these two facets of Russ’ suspension us to appear in Cryonics Reports is, perhaps, self-evident, but they as a separate California Section. bear elaboration. By ensuring that he Regrettably, the logistics problems had made all possible preparations involved in publishing in concert for his suspension and long-term with Cryonics Reports on a cross- maintenance, Russ made it much country coordination basis proved easier for his close friend and the awkward and prompted the decision executor of his estate, Mr. Rosario to publish a separate CSC newsletter; Coco, to provide these services for namely, Cryonics Review. We plan him. CSC has for years stressed to continue under the same general the urgency of making complete editorial policy of emphasizing action, medical, legal, and financial information, California activities, arrangements for cryonic suspension and a certain amount of fun. (Several in order to maximize the chances for paragraphs here combined to one.) suspension and ease the sometimes There is a report of the Russ Stanley overwhelming burden placed on those cryopreservation in September 1968, here who must perform the suspension excerpted and condensed. (Robert Nelson at and provide the maintenance. Paul Porcasi, editor of Cryonics Review, the time was in San Francisco, assisting in the (Russ unfortunately was also lost at from photo dated Dec. 1970. formation of the Bay Area Cryonics Society, Chatsworth, when the funding provided

28 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org by his estate proved to be inadequate for studies and intensive investigation This is a facility that is built below himself and other patients who had much over a period of two years involving ground, but it is not a hole in the ground less funding.27) the services and counsel of engineers that bodies and tanks are thrown into. Another reported development, one and specialists in several related It’s a multiple-storage facility that cost which seemed to herald a bright future for fields. in the neighborhood of $40,000 to the CSC, was the establishment of a secure Legally, Cryonic Interment’s new manufacture. The multiple-storage patient storage facility (several paragraphs facility offers an alternative to burial units have a maximum capacity of here combined to one): and cremation. Scientifically, CI 20 or 15 people depending on the The world’s first commercial, long- meets CSC standards for arresting size of the patients. Each patient is term cryonic suspension facility now cell damage after “clinical death” in an individual metal container very exists in Southern California. This has occurred. With completion of the similar to the units that were used in new facility utilizes high-reliability, Cryonic Interment multiple storage 2001: A Space Odyssey. The inside multiple-patient, vacuum storage units facility, a total cryonic suspension is stainless steel. It’s 14 ft. by 6 feet in that will maintain more than 2 dozen program is now available through width, and the patients are introduced patients at temperatures in the liquid CSC. The program provides all into an allotted slot inside the inner nitrogen range. CSC has arranged for necessary arrangements from pre- chamber similar to a honeycomb unit. the use of the new facility to provide death preliminaries, emergency It doesn’t turn. Units are moved by a the final element in a complex cryonic treatment, and latest method series of stainless steel cables that suspension system for the members perfusion, to maximum-security guide them into position and they can participating in the CSC cryonic suspension storage. be introduced and retrieved at will research program. without disturbing the other patients, The issue that followed (February) has the liquid nitrogen or the vacuum. an article on Walt Disney, who died in There is another brief mention, December 1966 (of lung cancer). Though by Marshall Neel, in another CSNY “Disney had expressed a desire to be newsletter (November 1969) where he cryonically suspended,” a death certificate concedes that the cryotorium is not yet stated he was cremated.28 (It has been a operational, though “we’re rapidly reaching persistent urban legend since then that the point where we are going to be able to Disney was cryopreserved after all, but no announce an existing facility.”33 (No such evidence of this has ever surfaced.) announcement after this date was made.) In the next (March-April) issue there is In any case we may ask, what was this more about a CSC cryonics facility, now “multiple storage unit”? Eventually it came given the name “cryotorium.” A company, out that there was something to it, a very Cryonic Interment, Inc. (CI), has been set large, horizontal cryogenic capsule that up to offer cryopreservation services to the had been obtained by Cryonic Interment, CSC, much as it was found expedient to which could have held many patients, had set up CryoSpan to offer services to CSNY it become operational. Unfortunately, this in New York.29 An unattributed article would not happen, and the facility itself (author later identified as Marshall Neel, was only operated at a much reduced under Nelson’s direction30) is enthusiastic if capacity, with more ordinary, much smaller not very clear on details:31 capsules. Much later, in his 2014 book, WORLD’S FIRST CRYOTORIUM Robert Nelson would comment:34 Cryonic Interment, Inc. (CI), has In our newsletter we boasted completed construction of a multiple The third issue of Cryonics Review of the world’s first cryotorium – storage facility for cryonic preservation. announced completion of the “cryotorium.” a proclamation I later regretted, The multiple principle introduces high because my detractors claimed I had reliability, flexibility, and efficiency into So what was this “facility” on which overstated our accomplishments. the cryonic preservation process. Tri- construction had been completed? Was it But we were desperate for paying check metering precludes malfunction just an invention? Or perhaps a cover-up suspensions, and I thought a little or variation from the critical standards for very primitive capabilities involving a exaggeration was justified. Hundreds required by CSC. single, horizontal capsule, intended for a of letters and phone calls were pouring The multiple principle permits single human patient, in which several had into CSC, and people were signing addition of patients and ultimate been placed? That’s what appeared to be so up. Still, there were no new patients, individual withdrawal of patients when, many years ago, this writer started and the expenses just continued to without affecting the temperature of investigating. A little more was said about mount. I didn’t know how much longer patients who remain in storage. High it, though not in the CSC newsletters but I could hang on, but I couldn’t think transfer costs are eliminated. those of CSNY, mainly, a report by Robert about failure. Somehow, I hoped we CI designs are a product of technical Nelson (April 1969), in which he states:32 could save our frozen heroes.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 29 time when I was frightened. But fear yielded to an understanding of it and the understanding became a part of the feeling. It no longer holds the fear it once did. What holds the fear for me is the pain. Pain holds a tremendous amount of fear – my tolerance for pain is quite reduced. But, you know, I have a “feeling” and it’s right here ([…] pointing to her stomach) – a restlessness. I do have anxiety, definitely. On the other hand, does she enjoy life? Oh! Very much. Every moment I do: I think that’s why my endurance to pain is so little. I was always full of energy and coming and going. Yes, I was always blessed with enormous energy resources. I know many people who were so envious of it – my energy. Yes, I enjoy life – I love it. There are so many things. Her family, the two sons, are supportive, Robert Nelson stands beside a jumbo cryogenic capsule that was to have been if not enthusiastic, and “would not used in the cryotorium as a multiple storage unit. Unfortunately, lack of funding interfere.” She is then asked why she is for basic requirements, including a workable location for the huge capsule, interested in cryopreservation for herself. prevented its use, and the facility was never operated as intended. My good old body should be devoted to humanity. But I was also very much too cold, she then relocated to Los Angeles. interested in myself. However, I felt As of the interview she was 48 years old, that I could go into it without first going divorced, and had two sons, David, 23, and through the damaging effects of the James, 22. A freelance commercial artist, illness – while I was still living. The she had studied at the Kann Institute and immortality aspect was unimportant the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She to me. I first felt that I could avoid the suffering. Perhaps I can go to another was a victim of myelofibrosis, “a currently country – to another, more aware incurable and fatal bone marrow disease culture – to do this ahead of time and which produces abnormal, defective blood still avoid the legal tangle. cells.” Her illness was diagnosed five years Judy first became aware of cryonics before; she was advised then that she had 6 through a Time magazine article on the to 10 years to live.35 (July 1968) Steven Mandell case, the first Cryonics Review (CR) further describes cryopreservation of CSNY, though the a beautiful, warm, and honest her as article also mentioned CSC. human being – articulate, and the My emotional state at the time, Besides being a teacher of general owner of an infectious laugh and brittle dominated by physical pain, was: semantics, Marshall Neel was a professional sense of humor. She is sensitive and “That’s the answer!” – the answer to public relations counsel, lecturer, and radio artistic and lives in a modest home the pain. I had done everything I was commentator; he also became president richly adorned with her own artwork. supposed to, and the pain didn’t let of the ill-fated Cryonic Interment, Inc. She is medium sized, dark haired, go. It always had up till then. dark eyed, olive complected, and Some common objections to cryonics The “cryotorium” problem aside,highly animated. She is alternately are noted, and Judy responds. Many object the issue also contains what I think is a smiling and serious, emotional and because it is not yet perfected, and Judy memorable interview “with a prospective intellectual, mundane and profound. answers: suspension patient,” Judy Ellman (a She has a deep feeling of kinship with Well, since my original purpose pseudonym). Born in Berlin of Jewish her fellow man. was pain avoidance, coming back background, she fled from Hitler’s regime Judy is asked if she fears death. was unimportant. I was not concerned to the Belgian Congo, then to New York, If I am honest with myself – it’s a about “perfection.” But I want my body arriving there in 1940. Finding that area very strange thing. Yes, there was a to go to science anyhow. 30 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org On the problem of overpopulation that great many people.” She then is asked her Michigan Newsletter, it soon was renamed cryonics might aggravate: expectations about the world she would The Outlook, a title it kept for several years. Overpopulation must be dealt come back to, and notes her revival could (For many years after that the publication with anyhow. Don’t ask the person conceivably happen in the next 10 was titled The Immortalist; today it who is “IT” at the moment. He isn’t or 15 years. What I would really love continues as Long Life Magazine.) concerned. would be to come back in the lifetimes The 1970 CSC newsletter issues As for the possibility of “coming back of my children. are mainly taken up with the cryonics old” she does not respond with the knee- Finally, she is asked if she has any feelings conference held in Los Angeles in May that jerk (if good) answer that we will certainly or “message” she’d like to give to others on year, with representation from all the major cure aging but has another reason to be cryonics: organizations. Four of the issues, January- optimistic: Just that it’s a magnificent idea. April, appearing monthly, are mainly about I don’t consider myself old. Art, for I would like to see it open up for the upcoming conference, with the usual instance, improves with the maturity everyone. We are fighting a disease limited coverage of other matters. The next and age of the artist. Imagine Picasso – and its name is death. issue, in July, notes that the conference – to him, to hell with how old he is. For has “just concluded” but devotes the rest an artist, this is an ideal thing. 1970 of the issue to one of the speakers, Dr. The future, however, might just be strange There were no further issues in 1969. Peter Gouras. Gouras presented findings and forbidding – “we won’t know anything In 1970 the newsletter adopted a new by himself and others, implying that the about the world we will be living in.” format, letter-size and bifolded from top postmortem brain is much more resistant I am also aware that by that time to bottom, but retaining the title Cryonics to deterioration than commonly supposed. there will be new techniques and Review. Most issues consisted of a single, Conventional wisdom, for example, held devices – electronic devices that will folded sheet. Opened out it had the cover that the brain is irreversibly damaged after teach us and prepare us by supplying design and addressing information on one four to six minutes of postmortem ischemia the data we will need. These have side, with possibly limited, additional text, (cessation of blood flow).36 But according been responsibly predicted. Also, it is and a single, double-columned text in fine to Gouras:37 Even using today’s up to the individual. After all, what is it print on the other side. Needless to say, this repair techniques, the brain damage to say “I was suspended – teach me!”? abbreviated format allowed for only limited resulting from over an hour of ischemia We don’t know what may happen or coverage of events, whether in or outside can be reversed, giving Cryonics what they can do. of CSC. Prior to this the CSC newsletters technicians at least that much more Some on the other hand are frightened had had two rivals, Cryonics Reports of time in which to accomplish low- by the prospect of “not knowing anyone.” CSNY, and Freeze-Wait-Reanimate of LES. temperature suspension. The next That doesn’t frighten me at any By 1970 the LES publication had ceased, (August-September) issue is about Fred time. I just sort of get acquainted. I’m while the CSNY newsletter continued Chamberlain, who has been newly named an extrovert – that’ll be fun. To people briefly under its new title Immortality. Vice President of CSC. Fred also spoke who don’t make friends easily, I’ll bet In 1970 a new newsletter joined the at the conference in May, and coverage this is a serious and frightening thing. group, this from the Cryonics Society of is given of his talk on the possibility of Also for people who don’t “give of Michigan. Like the CSC, the CSM had “anomalous water” (also called polywater) themselves” it may be frightening. been formed in response to the 1966 cross- which would stay liquid below the normal Then there is the issue of who would country trip of Curtis Henderson and Saul ice temperature and thus might find want to revive you. Kent. A few years went by; then it was time use in cryoprotectants. (Eventually this I’ll have to look at my own ego for them to have their own mouthpiece. possibility was discounted; “polywater”’s for the answer to that. But really, I At first prosaically titled Cryonics Society of fancied properties were shown to be due to presume they will want to revive me to make the method work. Judy assures the (anonymous) CR interviewer that she does not believe in God, a soul, or Heaven, then is asked, “how do you feel about mankind and his future?” I’m an optimist at heart. My answer is more optimistic than it is “reasonable.” In spite of the great destruction at the moment, youth will grow to have more conservative ideas. Understanding will be greater. Man will be “loosened up” in the future. CSC newsletters, 1970, from left: Isamu Suda received 1969 cryonics award (February); When asked what she thinks is the major Peter Gouras spoke at May conference, received 1970 cryonics award (July); Fred obstacle to cryopreservation arrangements, Chamberlain becomes CSC Vice President, spoke at conference (August-September). Judy responds, “finances,” at least for “a

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 31 impurities and not special arrangements of nitrogen. The capsule was not performing group; in the words of Paul Porcasi, the water molecules.38) well – even with pumping to “harden” its subject just “didn’t come up.”44) The Meanwhile there were tragic events on vacuum insulation – and had to be serviced secrecy, maintained in the newsletters, the side, involving the loss of patients, once a week or oftener rather than its protected CSC from what might have been which were not reported in the newsletter nominal rate of once a month or less.40 immediate dissolution, but set the stage or any newsletter of the time, but add At this point, according to Nelson, the for later, similar failures and ultimately much-needed perspective.39 financial situation was desperate. Much had compounded the disaster. In any case the As of May 1970, with the cryonics been spent on constructing the vault and fortunes of CSC would soon experience a conference in Los Angeles ready to start, paying for the large-sized capsule which major, if temporary, upturn: a new cryonics the CSC had four frozen patients: Marie was still unusable and was also stored in the case occurred under relatively favorable Phelps-Sweet, Louis Nisco, Helen Kline, maintenance area. (A bigger vault in which conditions. and Russ Stanley. (James Bedford, the to store it was one unmet requirement.) The Mildred E. Harris, a 55-year-old store first CSC case, was in the care of relatives extra liquid nitrogen to replenish the badly department manager in Des Moines, Iowa, and, save for a short period at the start, performing smaller capsule cost extra money. died September 20 of bone cancer and was never in CSC’s custody.) Three of them: Mrs. Gricius had not been paying and there promptly cryopreserved. She had learned Phelps-Sweet, Kline, and Stanley, had all was no more funding from the other three about cryonics several years before and been cryopreserved without any container patients’ estates or relatives. Nelson hoped became more serious about it when her available for long-term storage in liquid someone would come forth with assistance terminal condition developed. The last nitrogen. So they were stored in a mortuary when he conducted a tour of his existing 1970 issue of the newsletter (October- on dry ice. Stanley was the last to be frozen, facility for the conference attendees.41 November), reporting at some length on in September 1968. Meanwhile, Louis I showed the vault to Professor the Harris case, is “jumbo-sized” – two Nisco, from the Detroit area, expired and Ettinger and several prominent bifolded, corner-stapled sheets rather than was frozen by his daughter, Marie Gricius, cryonicists but no one at the the usual one (the only such extra size in the who was able to purchase (on an installment conference offered financial help. […] 1970-74 group). The cryopreservation was plan) a cryogenic capsule made by Cryo- I could stall with temporary solutions attended by both Robert Ettinger (Cryonics Care Equipment Corp. in Phoenix, Arizona, no longer – the permanent solution Society of Michigan) and Robert Nelson of and have the capsule, with her father inside was likely going to be death. […] I CSC, and was described as a joint effort of in liquid nitrogen, stored at their facility. hung my head low, remembering that the two organizations. Near the end of the When financing became a problem for this wasn’t about me but about my report is an upbeat summary:45 Mrs. Gricius the capsule with its occupant four patients. I was killing them […] Overall, Mrs. Harris’ cryonic was transferred to the custody of CSC, and In the summer of 1970 maintenance suspension was accomplished under stored at the mortuary used by them (the of the faulty capsule ceased and the four excellent conditions. There was Renaker-Klockgether Mortuary in Buena CSC patients thawed and were lost.42 The sufficient time, complete cooperation Park), in the Los Angeles area. Nelson abandonment was carried out in secret; it from Mrs. Harris’ sons Terry and saw an advantage in acquiring the capsule, appears that officers of Cryonic Interment Dennis, availability of all the required which might be used to store additional were aware of it but, aside from Nelson, technical and administrative cryonics patients. In March 1969 the capsule, not those of CSC. (Fred Chamberlain, for expertise, sufficient financing, the very whose inner container in normal use was instance, did not learn of it until later.43 best available suspension method, welded shut with its single occupant, was The Chamberlains would pioneer a lower- and timely perfusion and temperature cut open and the three other CSC patients cost preservation: head only or “neuro” reduction after clinical death. joined Nisco inside. (This required a careful rather than whole-body, as practiced up welding operation to avoid compromising to this time. Apparently the idea of saving 1971-74 the vacuum jacket insulation that greatly the heads of the patients to continue their Only six more issues of the one-sheet reduced the capsule’s boiloff.) preservation was not considered by Nelson’s newsletter would appear, two each in 1971 The capsule with its four occupants was stored at the mortuary until just before the conference in May the following year. At that point (with Joseph Klockgether who operated the mortuary wanting it moved) it was transferred to a location in the Oakwood Memorial Park, a cemetery in Chatsworth, California. A vault had been constructed there by Nelson to hold the capsule and other containers expected to be acquired, though for now the capsule was stored in a maintenance area, above-ground, where it could be serviced more easily, that From left: Mildred Harris and her sons, Terry and Dennis. is, periodically replenished with liquid

32 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org and 1972, and one each in 1973 and 1974. little money, but the case was so compelling diminished and other matters gained The two issues of 1971 are interesting for that he couldn’t say no.) focus. The next issue of Cryonics Review, rather different reasons. At first little Genevieve seemed January 1972, reports on the formation The first, September issue proclaims doomed but, incredibly, rallied. One of of a new New York cryonics group, with a that a “new East Coast facility” has been the cancerous kidneys had been removed pair of organizations: Cryonics Unlimited opened (“by Cryonic Interment, Inc.”). before her arrival in California and now (CU), and Society for the Advancement Nicholas Deblasio, whose wife, Ann, had the other was hemorrhaging badly and had of Cryonics Science (SACS). Among the been frozen by CSNY in January 1969, had to come out also, along with surrounding, participants was Pauline Mandell, whose become dissatisfied with that organization’s metastatic tissue. The child survived, son Stephen was cryopreserved by CSNY continued care of his loved one, and wanted started to get better, was released from the in July 1968 (their first case).48 to set up his own storage facility. Nelson, hospital August 31, and let it be known The two societies are separately when contacted, obliged by helping she’d be interested in seeing the nearby incorporated to minimize the construct a vault like the one he’d built in Disneyland. She was taken there, and also occasional awkwardness of handling Chatsworth. For the moment the facility, to Marineland, before returning to Canada both research and suspension in the Mount Holiness Memorial Park in a few days later, September 14. activities within one legal body. Butler, New Jersey (not so far from CSNY’s Bob Nelson gives a touching account Accordingly, the basic purpose of CU patient storage location in Coram, and later of the visit to Disneyland.47 An entourage is to aid members in arranging their in West Babylon, New York) was advertised consisting of Genevieve’s mother, Pierrette, own cryonic suspension, and the as an extension of CSC. (This represented a along with Bob and his ten-year-old complementary objective of the SACS considerable turnaround from a few years daughter, Susan, accompanied the little is to fund cryobiological research and before, when CSC was itself treated as the girl, wrapped in a blanket in her wheelchair. education and disseminate cryonics California chapter of CSNY.) CSNY, on They saw the various sights and went on the information. the other hand, was experiencing doldrums. easier rides, such as It’s a Small World (a Despite this show of promise, the group Their newsletter publication had ceased that boat ride), for which Genvieve was lifted seems to have accomplished little and spring, leaving only the CSM’s monthly in place then returned to her wheelchair quickly fades from the scene. The next issue publication Outlook as a competitor and when the riding was over, in this case, of Cryonics Review is a “quarterly,” complement to CSC’s limited, irregularly after two repeats. When informed of the dated February-March-April, 1972, issued Cryonics Review. But CSM did not situation, the Disneyland staff were entirely and again reports on Genevieve:49 offer cryonics services. CSC seemed to be, sympathetic and arranged for Mickey […]Those of you who met perhaps reassuringly, “taking over” from the Mouse and Donald Duck in their familiar Genevieve at the going-away party ailing CSNY – both organizations in fact costumes to come over and “recognize” Bob given her in September 1971 can were not far from collapse. as an old friend. They then said a warm appreciate the impossibility of The financial troubles that plagued hello to the astonished little child and had maintaining a close, long-term, and CSC were temporarily put on hold with an extended, friendly conversation using essentially dramatic relationship with contributions totaling ten thousand dollars her mother as interpreter, since Genevieve a courageous, beautiful, appealing or more (the exact amount is uncertain) only spoke French. little girl like Genevieve without from the two Harris sons.46 Their mother becoming emotionally involved. was maintained on dry ice for a time and When Genevieve returned to then would be transferred to a cryogenic Montreal in September 1971 after her capsule when another one became available. long fight against cancer, the removal Before this, another case intervened, of her one remaining kidney, and a covered in a second 1971 issue which series of artificial-kidney crises and would especially tug at the heart-strings, a postoperative complications, we all little girl with kidney cancer. shared her father’s hope that “bad A French-Canadian child living in luck can’t stick forever to Genevieve.” Montreal, Quebec, the seven-year-old But it was not to be. Genevieve de la Poterie (pronounced, Back in Montreal, Genevieve approximately, Zhahn-vee-ev duh lah apparently continued to improve, poh-TRAY) came to southern California, and even returned briefly to school. accompanied by her parents, in July 1971, But soon it became apparent that and seemed near death. Her father, Guy her cancer had not been checked. (“Gwee”) had contacted CSC about the In January of this year her parents, Genevieve visits Disneyland, possibility of freezing. It was decided that September 1971. Guy and Pierrette, returned with her it should not happen in Montreal, due to Los Angeles. This time there was to complications with officialdom over no question that Genevieve was in the very strange (to them) practice, but With her condition improved, terminal condition, and arrangements that California would be a better venue. Genevieve went back to Montreal. For a were made for her suspension. On (Nelson also reported that the family had short while, the urgency of her predicament January 25 she was pronounced

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 33 legally dead and was immediately The last issue, February 1974, features difficult bottleneck to address, but address suspended. young, attractive Jeannie Russell as the it we must. One possibility is to consider On the positive side, the cryonic new CSC Vice President. Otherwise it lower-cost forms of biostatic preservation suspension of Genevieve de la Poterie offers a potpourri of short news items. such as chemical brain fixation, which was the smoothest and most medically One report suggests that insight into might serve as a useful stepping-stone to sophisticated effort of its kind to date. better cryopreservation could come from cryopreservation, when funding can be For their part in giving Genevieve this studying “interface water” – the outer layer arranged. Such has already been done,54 but one more chance, we wish to thank of 100 to 1,000 water molecules that line a more efforts in this direction are very much her parents, Robert C.W. Ettinger, container of water-bearing material, “be it a needed.  Robert F. Nelson, Dr. Peter Gouras, blood vessel, living cell, grain of sand, milk Robert and Ann Price (Burlington carton, or test tube.”53 It also notes that Convalescent Hospital) and their interface water is not to be confused with PHOTO CREDITS wonderful staff, Dr. Joseph Still, “polywater” which is by then known be just Rev. Joseph Sittler: http://www. Gregory Fahy, Paul Segall, Art Quaife, ordinary water with impurities. josephsittler.org/summaries/recordings- and Joseph Klockgether. of-sittler.pdf, accessed 28 Sep. 2018; The issue also notes that Stephen birth and death dates JS. Mandell’s capsule, up to then with CSNY, Dick Jones: Alcor archives; birth and has been moved to the Chatsworth site death dates DC. and the custody of Cryonic Interment. (According to Curtis Henderson, head of Robert Prehoda: Valley News Van CSNY, Mrs. Mandell wasn’t paying for Nuys, CA, Sunday 5 Feb. 1967 East her son’s liquid nitrogen, which, in effect, Valley Ed., 51, https://www.ancestry. resulted in an eviction.50 Nelson was willing com/interactive/7683/NEWS-CA-VA_ to accept the capsule, and ended up storing NE.1967_02_05_0051?, accessed 7 two others in it with Stephen.) Aug. 2018 (paid subscription required). Sadly, Genevieve would also be among Helen Kline: courtesy of Robert those eventually lost at Chatsworth, along Nelson. with Mildred Harris, Steven Mandell, and two other patients which, added to Mrs. Roche: CA (= NY) Jun. 1968, 121. the four who were abandoned in 1970, would total nine altogether. (CSNY’s Paul Porcasi: courtesy of Robert seven patients, one of which, Mandell, also Nelson. became a CSC patient, would also be lost, Russ Stanley: Earlham College, Ind. by a usually different route of being handed Final issue of the CSC newsletters yearbook, 1932, 59. back to relatives or others when continued maintenance in liquid nitrogen became Brief Closing Thoughts Rosario Coco from family portrait, problematic.) For the time being, both Along with CSNY and Cryo-Care https://www.ancestry.com/ Genevieve and Mrs. Harris were maintained Equipment Corporation, CSC and their mediaui-viewer/tree/2044443/ on dry ice. It appears this storage lasted sister organizations (CryoSpan, Cryonic person/2049439604/media/ about a year. Then the capsule containing Interment) comprised the major early d7bf75d5-d259-470c-b7d5- Stephen Mandell was opened and the two experiment in cryopreserving individuals 1bdb95c17e11?_phsrc=Ybq610&_ joined him inside.51 for possible later revival. (I include also phstart=successSource, accessed 9 Sep. 2018, paid subscription required, Only two more issues of the newsletter the Butler, New Jersey facility, which identity verified by Robert Nelson, remained: May 1973 and February 1974. The started as part of CSC.) Of about 20 private communication (email) 15 May 1973 issue excitedly reports: “new experiments people cryopreserved by them, only James 2014. Caption quote from RN2, 68. provide cryonics proof of principle.” Scientists Bedford remains in cryopreservation today; using a DMSO-based cryoprotectant have the rest were lost many years ago. The Nelson standing by large capsule: successfully cryopreserved mouse embryos, organizations failed in different ways, but courtesy of Robert Nelson. which, after rewarming, were implanted in the main shortfall clearly was funding to Marshall Neel: NY Nov. 1969, 14. female mice, developed to term, and were keep patients frozen, despite any wishes born normally.52 The suspension method of both the organizations and the relatives Mildred Harris: courtesy of Robert used is a familiar one to those involved of the patients to maintain the freezings. Nelson. in cryonics. It closely resembles the Bitter lessons were learned from all this, Terry Harris: CA Oct.-Nov. 1970, 7. protocol developed for the cryonics and today cryonics is operated on a sounder societies by Dr. Peter Gouras of the financial footing, with the tradeoff, no Dennis Harris: CA Oct-Nov. 1970, 6. National Institute of Health, Education, doubt, that much fewer than would like to Genevieve visits Disneyland: CA Oct.- and Welfare and used in all recent be are being preserved for later revival, even Nov. 1971, 1. suspensions. if they are preserved more securely. This is a

34 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org REFERENCES 1. RN2, 22-24. 12. (Super-hypothermia) CA 26. CA Jan. 1969, 10; NY 42. (Patients abandoned) 2. See, for example, RN1, Feb. 1967, 6-7. Oct. 1968, 189-91; RN2, RN2, 84-88. 12-24; MP5. 13. (Cryobiology) CA Feb. 67-69. 43. FC. 3. See, for example, RN1, 1967, 7-13. 27. RN2, 68-88. 44. PP; RN2, 211-212. 25-31. 14. (Chemical anabiosis) CA 28. CA Feb. 1969, 3. 45. CA Oct.-Nov. 1970, 5. Feb. 1967, 13-15. 4. (Nelson introduction) CA 29. MP6. 46. KB. Jan. 1967, 1-2. 15. (Revolutionary potential) 30. MP1; RN2, 74-75. CA Feb. 1967, 15-17. 47. RN2, 101-104; SB1; 5. (Ettinger’s visit) CA Jan. 31. CA Mar.-Apr. 1969, 2-3. SB2. 1967, 2-3. 16. (Kline freezing) CA (= NY) May 1968, 85. 32. NY Apr.-May 1969, 25. 48. CA Jan. 1972, 2; MP6 6. (Brunol profile) CA Jan. (Mandell case). 1967, 6-7. 17. (Neel article) CA (= NY) 33. NY Nov. 1969, 13. May 1968, 87-88. 34. RN2, 74-75. 49. CA Feb.-Mar.-Apr. 1972, 7. (Brunol background) See, 2. for example, MP3. 18. CRG. 35. (Ellman interview) CA 50. CH. 8. (Jones rebuttal to Sittler), 19. CA (= NY) May 1968, Mar.-Apr. 1969, 4-10. CA Jan. 1967, 3-5; DC. 89. 36. HE. 51. MP1; RN, 123-27. 9. (Meeting with Brunol, 20. CA (= NY) Jun. 1968, 37. CA Jul. 1970, 3. 52. CA May 1973, 1-2. Prehoda) CA Jan. 1967, 120-22. 38. PW. 53. CA Feb. 1974, 2-3. 5. 21. MP3, MP4. 39. (Suspension failures) 54. See, for example, EP 10. (Prehoda introductory 22. RP, xiii-xiv. MP1; RN2, 53-88. remarks) CA Feb. 1967, 1-2. 23. MP2. 40. RN2, 78, 84; EH. 11. (Hibernation and 24. NY Dec. 1968, 232. 41. (Nelson quotes) RN2, 84, hypothermia) CA Feb. 25. CA Jan. 1969, 2. 88; MI Jun. 1970, 1. 1967, 3-5.

SOURCES

CA. Cryonics Society of California EP. (Elizabeth Pugliese cryonics charity MI. Cryonics Society of Michigan newsletters. (Cryonics Reports of California, case), Cryonics 37(2) (Mar.-Apr. 2016) newsletters (The Outlook for the time period Jan. 1967; Cryonics of California, Feb. 1967; 28-29, https://www.alcor.org/cryonics/ covered here, except for Jan. and Feb. California Section of Cryonics Reports, 1968; Cryonics2016-2.pdf, accessed 6 Oct. 2018 . 1970.) Cryonics Review, 1969-74). FC. Fred Chamberlain, private MP1. R. Michael Perry, “Suspension CH (Mandell capsule). Curtis Henderson, communication about 1990. https://www. Failures: Lessons from the Early interview, Cryonics 30(3) (3Q 2009), alcor.org/cryonics/cryonics0903.pdf https:// Years,” https://alcor.org/Library/html/ 10, https://www.alcor.org/cryonics/ www.alcor.org/cryonics/cryonics0903.pdf suspensionfailures.html, accessed 1 Oct. cryonics0903.pdf, accessed 1 Oct. 2018. 2018. HE. (4-6 min. brain ischemia) Heymans, CRG (Cryogenesis reference). https:// C., “Survival and revival of nervous tissue MP2. (Cryotorium reference) R. Michael en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cryogenesis, accessed after the arrest of circulation,” Physiol. Rev. Perry, http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp. 13 Sep. 2018. 30:325, 1950, cited in Cryonics, Reaching for cgi?msg=24838, accessed 30 Sep. 2018. Tomorrow, 4th Ed., Riverside, Calif.: Alcor DC. Dick Clair (Richard Clair Jones, Dick Life Extension Foundation (1993) 28. MP3. R. Michael Perry, “What Did Brunol Jones) reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/ Say?: Notes from the Architect of the First wiki/Dick_Clair, accessed 5 Aug. 2018. JS. (Joseph Sittler) https://en.wikipedia.org/ Human Cryonics Preservations,” Cryonics wiki/Joseph_Sittler, accessed 1 Oct. 2018. 36(5) (May 2015) 10, https://www.alcor. EH. (Cryogenic capsule performance) org/cryonics/Cryonics2015-05.pdf, accessed Edward F. Hope, “Permanent Cryonic KB. (Harris financial contribution). 3 Sep. 2018. Storage Equipment,” in Saul Kent, ed., Kenneth Bly, private communication about First Annual Cryonics Conference, New York: 8 Sep. 2018, based on conversations with MP4. R. Michael Perry, “Cryonics Under Cryonics Society of New York, 1968, 33. Robert Nelson. Fire: Meeting the Challenges of Hostile Scientists Then and Now,” Cryonics 37(1)

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 35 (Jan.-Feb. 2016), 8-15, https://www.alcor. NY. Cryonics Society of New York RP. Robert Prehoda, Suspended Animation: org/cryonics/Cryonics2016-1.pdf, accessed newsletters (Cryonics Reports, 1966-69, The Research Possibility That May Allow Man 30 Sep. 2018. Immortality 1970-71). to Conquer the Limiting Chains of Time, Philadelphia: Chilton, 1969. MP5. R. Michael Perry, “Ev Cooper and PP. Paul Porcasi, private communication, 5 the Conference That Didn’t Happen: Trials Oct. 2007. SB1. (Child’s age) https://search.ancestry. of an Early Freezing,” Cryonics 37(3) (May- com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1788&h June 2016) 14-26, https://www.alcor.org/ PW. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ =67866305&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_ cryonics/Cryonics2016-3.pdf, accessed 30 Polywater, accessed 16 Sep. 2018. phsrc=Ybq659&_phstart=successSource, Sep. 2018. accessed 7 Oct. 2018 (paid subscription RN1. Robert F. Nelson with Sandra Stanley, required). MP6. R. Michael Perry, “Cryonics We Froze the First Man, New York: Dell, Newsletters: Some Historical Highlights, 1968. SB2. (Child’s age) https://www.spokeo. Part 2A: New York,” Cryonics 38(1) (May- com/Susan-Rand/California/Temecula/ RN2. Robert F. Nelson (“Bob Nelson”) Jun. 2018) 32 (reference to CryoSpan vs. p1443574311, accessed 7 Oct. 2018. with Kenneth Bly and Sally Magaña, CSNY). https://www.alcor.org/cryonics/ Freezing People is (Not) Easy: My Adventures Cryonics2018-3.pdf, accessed 30 Sep. 2018. in Cryonics, Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot Press, 2014.

Robert Nelson Memorial Service By R. Michael Perry

Buddhist memorial service was that “many Cambodians are Buddhists held in Pomona, California who do not view death as the end of one’s September 8, for Robert Nelson, life but rather as the end of a life cycle. whoA was a practicing Buddhist, inspired It is a passage from one stage of the cycle by his Cambodian wife Moeurth (“Mert”). to the next.”1 Certainly this has an echo In keeping with tradition, the service was in cryonics!) After this was a sumptuous held 90 days after his passing June 10 at meal with a myriad of Asian and American age 81. Following his wishes, he had been dishes, and finally, around 12:30 p.m., a cryopreserved and become a patient at the short video of Bob’s life by his friend and Cryonics Institute. Outside of cryonics one-time employee, Ken Bly.2 Nelson used his adoptive father’s surname of Buccelli. Prior to retirement his principal occupation had been to own and operate a TV repair business. Ken Bly shows his video of Bob to conclude the service. Children from two marriages attended the service, along with Moeurth and many other acquaintances and well-wishers, I extend thanks to Ken for his generous about 75-100 people in all. The service, hospitality in providing transportation to held at the Cambodian Buddhist Society this beautiful service, which indeed was my of Pomona temple complex, 1129 W. 10th first attendance at any Buddhist gathering Street, started about 10 a.m., orange-robed (and also for usefully commenting on an monks chanting a message of respect, Monks chant as attendees pay earlier draft of this article). Cambodian calmness and compassion for the one being respects at Nelson/Buccelli Buddhism, I learned, is a variant of honored and to those paying respects. memorial service, Sep. 8, 2018. Theravada or “early” Buddhism – I am still (Interestingly, I found a reference stating investigating. 

REFERENCES 1. Keo Mony, “Death in Cambodian Buddhist Culture,” https://ethnomed.org/clinical/end-of-life/death-in-cambodian-buddhist- culture, accessed 3 Oct 2018. 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFxUW-ET-lE, accessed 3 Oct. 2018.

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MKAQAV171106 Alcor_NovDec_NAD_Ad.indd 1 10/4/17 10:31 AM ake It You CAN T (and here’s how) with you

By Nancy Fisher

n August 31, Alcor’s New York mind, Mark explained how the two trust Of special significance to cryonicists regional group enjoyed an models came to be, how each one works, is the specific, Alcor-approved language exciting presentation by Mark E. and what level of funding is required. Mark has created in the “Material OHouse, a highly experienced Trusts and He noted that in creating these trusts, Purpose of Trust” section of the trust Estates attorney from Scottsdale, Arizona. he worked closely with the folks at Alcor, document in order to limit the possibility That’s right; exciting. And what he told particularly Ralph Merkle, Michael Seidl, of a premature termination of the trust us should gladden the heart of every and Linda Chamberlain. He designed under the “Impossibility Doctrine.” This cryonicist. the trusts under Arizona law which has regulation holds that “if all of the purposes Who wants to be revived with no fewer restrictions than many other states, for which the trust is created are or become money to live on? But finding ways and with the added advantage of being impossible of accomplishment, the trust to send assets into the future without administered in the state in which Alcor will be terminated.” Mark’s wording running afoul of legalities such as the rule is located. And he arranged for the highly- creates a strong barrier against such an against perpetuities, and the “impossibility regarded international investment banking eventuality. doctrine” (see below), not to mention firm of Raymond James to serve as Trustee There are several versions of asset identifying respected investment banking and Custodian. preservation trusts. These include an firms and attorneys that understand and Aside from the $5,000 set-up cost, accumulation trust without distributions; are willing to accept the challenges and which is the same for both types of trusts, an accumulation trust with distributions responsibilities of acting for cryonicists no monies are paid into either type of to descendants (a “dynasty” trust); a who want to “take it with them,” has been trust until death occurs, at which time the simple accumulation trust with payment challenging. Until now. trust is funded via the member’s will or of income only; and a Charitable Lead Clearly, and with great enthusiasm (he is revocable trust. Annuity Trust (CLAT) which pays out an Associate Member of Alcor and about to money each year with the remainder become a full member, so these strategies Future Income Trust (FIT), an going to the ultimate beneficiary. Each are important to him personally), Mark asset preservation trust has its advantages and disadvantages. outlined two types of asset preservation This type of trust is custom-created for each Mark recommends creating a straight trusts specifically designed for cryonicists. individual – you can even build in language accumulation of interest trust and naming They have different funding requirements, around the possibility of a future cyber twin Alcor as the remainder beneficiary. but either one of them will enable you to resulting from brain-uploading – and is Raymond James requires a minimum “send money into the future” to fund your funded either directly during one’s lifetime investment of $500,000 in this type of trust. financial future after revival. or at the time of death by distribution from Clearly, many cryonicists cannot invest that The most important considerations for another estate planning document such large a sum. But don’t worry – that’s where any trust are stability, the probability of as your will or via a life insurance policy. the second type of trust comes in. ongoing operations for years to come, a During your lifetime, the FIT is a simple In association with Alcor, Mark has rigorous system of checks and balances, revocable trust. At death, the trust becomes developed a different trust model that and a reliable trustee with knowledge of irrevocable. When you are revived, you allows cryonicists to invest less than the the relevant laws. With these factors in become the trust beneficiary. minimum required for an individual

38 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org Future Income Trust by pooling as you were when you were cryopreserved, you need to arrange for that directly with investments from multiple members. do you have to pay back the proceeds of him. any life insurance policy? Can you collect Meanwhile, this article has only scratched Multi-Investor Future Income back payments of Social Security? Is any the surface. So if you think you might want Trust (MIFIT) pension plan you participated in required to invest in the MIFIT when it debuts, This is a specialized version of an to go on paying you forever? And how old or if you’d like to speak with Mark about asset preservation trust in which the would you be after being revived – the age creating a custom FIT for you, or if you contributions of a number of specialized at which you died plus all the years you simply want more information—feel free trusts created by Alcor members are pooled were in biostasis? to contact him at mark@beckerandhouse. within a corporation, which is structured Given these issues, Mark feels you would com or (480) 240-4020. He’s happy to to be taxed as a C-corporation. Raymond need to be treated as a new person. Which answer your questions and help any way he James is the Trustee of the MIFIT and the begs the questions: When is your birthday can. And if your local Alcor membership investment advisor for the corporation, – the day Alcor revived you? Do you need group would like him to come speak, that while Alcor nominates the Trust Protectors. to apply for a new driver’s license? If your can likely be arranged as well. To participate, you arrange your trust spouse was revived with you, are you still Isn’t it reassuring to know that you account while you are alive, and you tell married? Mark also wondered whether actually can take it with you?  your estate planner that a portion of your you could be subject to the Generation- assets will be invested in this trust when you Skipping Transfer Tax on the assets of your die. Your estate planner will put that in your trust that exceed whatever the exemption will as a payment from your estate. There is amount is at that time (today it’s $11.2 no minimum investment per se, although million). investing less than $25,000 is probably not advantageous. The ideal investment would For more information… be between $100,000-250,000. In theory, a customized version of a The MIFIT somewhat resembles a Future Income Trust can be prepared Defined Contribution Pension Plan in by your current attorney – although, terms of how it works. Upon your death, speaking personally, I would feel way more your estate buys shares of the corporation, comfortable working with Mark, an Alcor Mark E. House called FIT Investments, Inc., using the member who has studied the issues and is Attorney assets earmarked for that investment in personally vested in cryopreservation and 480.240.4020 your will. When you are revived, your revival. [email protected] shares of FIT Investments are sold and you The MIFIT, developed jointly by Mark receive the funds realized from that sale and and Alcor, is proprietary to Mark, which pay capital gains taxes on that amount. means that if you want to participate in it, Mark expects the MIFIT to be up and running by the end of 2018 or early in 2019, at which time Alcor will send an announcement to members and post information and links on the website.

We interrupt this financial discussion for a thought experiment. As the evening wore on – nobody wanted to leave! – the conversation veered in some fascinating directions. For example, Mark posited: After you’ve been revived, are you the same person who died, or are you a different person? This is more than just a philosophical question, and the ensuing discussion was lively. Your status when you’re in biostasis, Mark explained, is “legally dead.” But if you’re the same person after you’re revived

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 39 Membership Statistics

2018 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Members 1149 1159 1171 1176 1179 1194 1198 1208 1214 Patients 155 156 156 156 157 158 159 161 162 Associate 292 274 271 271 278 275 288 290 293 Total 1596 1589 1598 1603 1614 1627 1645 1659 1669

MembersPatients Country

Australia 13 3 Austria 1 0 Brazil 1 0 Canada 54 3 China 0 1 Finland 1 0 France 0 1 Germany 18 0 Hong Kong 2 0 Israel 1 1 Italy 3 0 Number of Alcor members Japan 5 0 Luxembourg 1 0 Mexico 4 0 Monaco 1 0 Netherlands 1 0 New Zealand 1 0 Norway 1 0 Portugal 5 0 Singapore 1 0 South Korea 1 0 Spain 5 1

International Members & Patients Taiwan 1 0 Thailand 5 1 United Kingdom 35 3 Number of Alcor patients TOTAL 161 14 Revival Update Reported by R. Michael Perry

Promising Research for https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/news/ UC San Diego Jacobs School of NMR and MRI Using promising-research-could-lead-new- Engineering Diamonds and Lasers strategies-nmr-and-mri-using-diamonds- 30 May 2018 and-lasers http://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_

releases/release.sfe?id=2550 A new approach developed by researchers at UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry shows great promise for enhancing the Cell-like Nanorobots Clear signal from magnetic resonance imaging Bacteria and Toxins from Blood “Right to Try Act” (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance Signed into Law (NMR) using lasers without expensive Engineers at the University of California magnets. In newly published research in San Diego have developed tiny ultrasound- President Donald Trump signed the “Right the journal Science Advances, lead researcher powered robots that can swim through to Try Act” May 30, a measure aimed at Ashok Ajoy and an international research blood, removing harmful bacteria along helping terminally ill patients access drug team have announced development of a with the toxins they produce. These treatments that are yet to be fully approved new technology that has the potential to proof-of-concept nanorobots could by the Food and Drug Administration. decrease the cost of multimillion-dollar one day offer a safe and efficient way to Trump, at a White House ceremony medical imaging and spectroscopy devices. detoxify and decontaminate biological surrounded by patients and families who The research was carried out in the lab fluids. Researchers built the nanorobots will be affected by the legislation, said his of Professor Alexander Pines, in close by coating gold nanowires with a hybrid administration “worked hard on this” but collaboration with Professor Jeffery Reimer. of platelet and red blood cell membranes. said repeatedly he didn’t understand why it Alex Pines said of the research, “What This hybrid cell membrane coating allows hadn’t been done before. The bill will give Ashok with his team and collaborators the nanorobots to perform the tasks of two terminally ill patients the right to seek drug Carlos Meriles and Jeff Reimer have different cells at once—platelets, which treatments that remain in clinical trials and accomplished is amazing. In a powder bind pathogens like MRSA bacteria (an “have passed Phase 1 of the Food and Drug of diamond nanocrystals they achieved a antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus Administration’s approval process” but hyperpolarization almost three orders of aureus), and red blood cells, which absorb have not been fully approved by the FDA. magnitude higher than thermal, by means and neutralize the toxins produced by these Some opponents of the bill argue that the of optical pumping together with a novel bacteria. The gold body of the nanorobots legislation won’t change much but could method of microwave DNP [dynamic responds to ultrasound, which gives them have a detrimental effect on how the FDA nuclear polarization, a signal enhancement the ability to swim around rapidly without safeguards public health. Trump said he technique] by multiple sweeps.” chemical fuel. This mobility helps the thinks “hundreds of thousands” could be nanorobots efficiently mix with their targets saved as a result of the legislation. “With (bacteria and toxins) in blood and speed up the passage of this bill, Americans will be detoxification. The work, published May able to seek cures,” Trump said, adding they 30 in Science Robotics, builds on efforts of will finally be given “the right to try.” Joseph Wang and Liangfang Zhang …. Allie Malloy, CNN 30 May 2018 https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/ politics/right-to-try-donald-trump/index. Two SEM micrographs of diamond html microparticles employed in the investigation. The particles have uniform size distributions and are characterized by their unusual truncated octahedral Synthetic ‘Tissues’ Build shape set by particle growth size. Credit: Themselves UC Berkeley College of Chemistry. Colored SEM image of nanorobots How do complex biological structures – an John Fyson / Berkeley College of coated in hybrid platelet/red blood cell eye, a hand, a brain – emerge from a single Chemistry membranes. Image courtesy of Esteban- fertilized egg? This is the fundamental Fernández de Ávila/Science Robotics 21 May 2018 question of developmental biology, and

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 41 a mystery still being grappled with by uses, stores and retrieves information. As using magnetic levitational assembly,” scientists who hope to one day apply the part of this so called Grand Challenge, Biofabrication, June 18. same principles to heal damaged tissues the US Defense Advanced Research or regrow ailing organs. Now, in a study Projects Agency (DARPA) launched a set Clare Scott / 3Dprint.com published May 31 in Science, researchers of programs designed to understand the 26 Jun. 2018 at UCSF have demonstrated the ability dynamic functions of the brain and to https://3dprint.com/217647/3d-printing- to program groups of individual cells to demonstrate breakthrough applications magnets-microgravity/ self-organize into multi-layered structures based on these insights. One element is reminiscent of simple organisms or the the Neural Engineering System Design first stages of embryonic development. (NESD) program, announced in January Possible Anti-Aging “What is amazing about biology is that 2016. This aims to develop an implantable Intervention DNA allows all the instructions required neural interface capable of providing to build an elephant to be packed within “unprecedented” signal resolution and New research from a team at the Marshall a tiny embryo,” said study senior author data-transfer bandwidth between the brain University Joan C. Edwards School of Wendell Lim, PhD. “DNA encodes an and the digital world and to do this in a Medicine demonstrates that the Na/K- algorithm for growing the organism – a biocompatible device which has a volume ATPase oxidant amplification loop (NAKL) series of instructions that unfolds in time no larger than 1cm3. DARPA’s Dr Al is intimately involved in the aging process in a way we still don’t really understand. It’s Emondi is currently the NESD program easy to get overwhelmed by the complexity manager. and may serve as a target for anti-aging of natural systems, so here we set out to interventions. The researchers were also able understand the minimal set of rules for NewElectronics to successfully demonstrate the therapeutic programming cells to self-assemble into 12 Jun. 2018 potential of pNaKtide, a synthetic peptide, multicellular structures.” http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/ in improving impaired physiological electronics-technology/implantable- functions and disease development. The interface-innovation/174945/ findings are published in the June 26, 2018, edition of Scientific Reports, an online journal from the publishers of Nature. “I 3D Printing with Magnets in am extremely excited about the research involved in the current Scientific Reports Microgravity article,” said Joseph I. Shapiro, M.D., senior author and dean of the Joan C. Edwards While methods of 3D bioprinting vary, School of Medicine. “I believe that our Researchers programmed cells to self- most of them have one thing in common team has not only implicated the NAKL assemble into complex structures such – they print cells layer by layer into a discovered by our colleague, Dr. Zijian as this one with three differently colored desired shape, which is then transferred Xie, in the aging process but identified a layers. Credit: Wendell Lim/UCSF to an incubator where it further grows novel therapeutic target as well as a specific and develops. Alternative methods exist, pharmacological strategy to actually slow however, that involve the manipulation of Nicholas Weiler / UCSF News Center the aging process. Although it will be some the cell material by magnetic fields. The 31 May 2018 time before we can test these concepts …” cells are then “labeled” with magnetic https://www.ucsf.edu/ nanoparticles. But now a Russian research news/2018/05/410596/synthetic- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards team has developed a new method of tissues-build-themselves School of Medicine / Eurekalert! bioprinting that neither prints layer by layer 16 Jun. 2018 nor uses magnetic labeling. This method https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_ could lead to the creation of radiation- releases/2018-06/mujc-mso062518.php Implantable Interface sensitive biological constructs and the

Innovation repair of organs and tissues. The new method, which involves magnetic levitation In April 2013, when he was US president, research in conditions of microgravity, was Manipulating Single Atoms Barack Obama launched a research initiative conducted by the 3D Bioprinting Solutions with an Electron Beam aimed at revolutionizing our understanding company in collaboration with other of the human brain. With a budget of Russian and foreign scientists, including All matter is composed of atoms, which around $100 million, the BRAIN – Brain the Joint Institute for High Temperatures are too small to see without powerful Research through Advancing Innovative of the Russian Academy of Sciences (JIHT modern instruments including electron Neurotechnologies – Initiative looked RAS). The research was documented in microscopes. The same electrons that form to develop and apply technologies that a paper: “Scaffold-free, label-free and images of atomic structures can also be used explore how the brain records, processes, nozzle-free biofabrication technology to move atoms in materials. This technique 42 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org of single-atom manipulation, pioneered by University of Vienna data handling and simulation requirements University of Vienna researchers, is now able 9 Jul. 2018 of modern brain research. The Blue Brain to achieve nearly perfect control over the https://medienportal.univie.ac.at/presse/ project, which has occasionally stirred movement of individual silicon impurity aktuelle-pressemeldungen/detailansicht/ debate among European brain researchers, atoms within the lattice of graphene, the artikel/manipulating-single-atoms-with- came into being in June 2005 when IBM two-dimensional sheet of carbon. The an-electron-beam/ and EPFL signed an agreement to launch latest results are reported in the scientific the project and install a Blue Gene at journal Nano Letters. As an epoch-making EPFL – hence the name Blue Brain for the achievement in nanotechnology, the HPE, EPFL Launch Blue Brain 5 machine. When IBM stopped development scanning tunneling microscope has since Supercomputer of Blue Gene around 2015, EPFL was the late 1980s been able to move atoms over forced to broaden its search for next surfaces, and has until very recently been HPE and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale generation supercomputing technology, the only technology capable of moving de Lausannne (EPFL) Blue Brain Project said Felix Shürmann, EPFL, co-director individual atoms in such a controlled yesterday (July 9) introduced Blue Brain EPFL Blue Brain Project during a press manner. Now, the scanning transmission 5, a new supercomputer built by HPE, briefing yesterday. electron microscope (STEM) is able to which displaces a long line of IBM Blue reliably focus an electron beam with sub- Gene systems that previously supported John Russell / HPC atomic precision, allowing scientists to the 13-year-old Blue Brain Project whose 10 Jul. 2018 directly see each atom in two-dimensional ambitious goal is to “digitally reconstruct https://www.hpcwire.com/2018/07/10/ materials like graphene, and also to target and simulate” the human brain. The new hpe-epfl-launch-blue-brain-5- single atoms with the beam. … HPE machine, say both HPE and EPFL, supercomputer/ was carefully designed to meet the massive

A Roadmap to Revival uccessful revival of cryonics patients will require three Gregory M. Fahy, “A ‘Realistic’ Scenario for Sdistinct technologies: (1) A cure for the disease that put Nanotechnological Repair of the Frozen Human Brain,” in the patient in a critical condition prior to cryopreservation; Brian Wowk, Michael Darwin, eds., Cryonics: Reaching for (2) biological or mechanical cell repair technologies that Tomorrow, Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 1991. can reverse any injury associated with the cryopreservation process and long-term care at low temperatures; (3) Ralph C. Merkle, “The Molecular Repair of the Brain,” rejuvenation biotechnologies that restore the patient to good Cryonics 15(1) (January 1994):16-31 (Part I) & Cryonics 15(2) health prior to resuscitation. OR it will require some entirely (April 1994):20-32 (Part II). new approach such as (1) mapping the ultrastructure of Ralph C. Merkle, “Cryonics, Cryptography, and Maximum cryopreserved brain tissue using nanotechnology, and (2) Likelihood Estimation,” First Extropy Institute Conference, using this information to deduce the original structure and Sunnyvale CA, 1994, updated version at http://www.merkle. repairing, replicating or simulating tissue or structure in com/cryo/cryptoCryo.html. some viable form so the person “comes back.” Aubrey de Grey & Michael Rae, “Ending Aging: The The following is a list of landmark papers and books that Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human reflect ongoing progress towards the revival of cryonics Aging in Our Lifetime.” St. Martin’s Press, 2007. patients: Robert A. Freitas Jr., “Comprehensive Nanorobotic Control Jerome B. White, “Viral-Induced Repair of Damaged of Human Morbidity and Aging,” in Gregory M. Fahy, Neurons with Preservation of Long-Term Information Michael D. West, L. Stephen Coles, and Steven B. Harris, Content,” Second Annual Conference of the Cryonics eds, The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension, Societies of America, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Springer, New York, 2010, 685-805. April 11-12, 1969, by J. B. White. Reprinted in Cryonics 35(10) (October 2014): 8-17. Chana Phaedra, “Reconstructive Connectomics,” Cryonics 34(7) (July 2013): 26-28. Michael G. Darwin, “The Anabolocyte: A Biological Approach to Repairing Cryoinjury,” Life Extension Magazine Robert A. Freitas Jr., “The Alzheimer Protocols: A (July-August 1977):80-83. Reprinted in Cryonics 29(4) (4th Nanorobotic Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Quarter 2008):14-17. Neurodegenerative Conditions,” IMM Report No. 48, June 2016.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 43 Start preparing your Memory Box ...now!

Start your own time-capsule! ......

Create a Memory Box with items to augment your memories when you are resuscitated.

No one knows better than you what you will want to have with you.

Alcor makes available to every member and patient, without charge, one acid free Memory Box about the size of a standard banker’s box (H10” x W12” x L15”) for memorabilia to be stored underground at a commercial storage site called Underground Vaults and Storage (UGVS) in Kansas. Additional Boxes are a one-time charge of $250 each for perpetual storage.

Some of the most popular items that have been placed into storage are such things as letters, cards, photographs, diaries, journals, notebooks, books, clippings, army records, directories, recipes, video tapes, cassettes, medical records, flash drives, and external drives.

If you would like to begin working on your own Memory Box, or perhaps contribute items to a Box for an Alcor Member already in stasis, or if you have any questions, please contact Linda Chamberlain at [email protected] or call toll free at 877-462-5267 ext 115.

44 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org Reduce Your Alcor Dues With The CMS Waiver

Alcor members pay general dues to cover Alcor’s neurocryopreservation members under this election would operating expenses and also make annual contributions to be $110,000). Once this election is made, the member the Comprehensive Member Standby fund pool to cover the cannot change back to the original minimums in the future. costs of readiness and standby. Benefits of Comprehensive To have the CMS fee waived, these are the minimums: Member Standby include no out-of-pocket expense for standby services at the time of need, and up to $10,000 for • $220,000 Whole Body Cryopreservation relocation assistance to the Scottsdale, Arizona area. ($115,000 to the Patient Care Trust, $60,000 for Instead of paying $180 per year in CMS dues, Alcor also cryopreservation, $45,000 to the CMS Fund). provides members the option to cover all CMS-associated • $100,000 Neurocryopreservation ($25,000 to the costs through life insurance or pre-payment. Members who Patient Care Trust, $30,000 for cryopreservation, provide an additional $20,000 in minimum funding will no $45,000 to the CMS Fund). longer have to pay the $180 CMS (Comprehensive Member Standby fund) fee. This increase in minimums is permanent If you have adequate funding and would like to take (for example, if in the future Alcor were to raise the cost of advantage of the CMS waiver, contact Diane Cremeens at a neurocryopreservation to $90,000, the new minimum for [email protected].

Become An Alcor Associate Member! Supporters of Alcor who are not yet ready to make cryopreservation arrangements can become an Associate Member for $5/month (or $15/quarter or $60 annually). Associate Members are members of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation who have not made cryonics arrangements but financially support the organization. Associate Members will receive:

• Cryonics magazine by mail • Discounts on Alcor conferences • Access to post in the Alcor Member Forums • A dollar-for-dollar credit toward full membership sign-up fees for any dues paid for Associate Membership

To become an Associate Member send a check or money order ($5/month or $15/quarter or $60 annually) to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, or call Marji Klima at (480) 905-1906 ext. 101 with your credit card information. Or you can pay online via PayPal using the following link: http://www.alcor.org/BecomeMember/associate.html (quarterly option is not available this way). Associate Members can improve their chances of being cryo- preserved in an emergency if they complete and provide us with a Declaration of Intent to be Cryopreserved (http://www.alcor.org/Library/ html/declarationofintent.html). Financial provisions would still have to be made by you or someone acting for you, but the combination of Associate Membership and Declaration of Intent meets the informed consent requirement and makes it much more likely that we could move ahead in a critical situation.

www.alcor.org Cryonics / November-December 2018 45 MEETINGS

About the Alcor Foundation Oregon: The contact person for meetings in The Alcor Life Extension Foundation is a nonprofit tax-exempt scientific and educational the Portland area is Aschwin de Wolf: aschwin@ organization dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation and promoting alcor.org. See also: https://www.facebook.com/ cryonics as a rational option. Being an Alcor member means knowing that—should the portland.life.extension. worst happen—Alcor’s Emergency Response Team is ready to respond for you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. British Columbia (Canada): CryoBC, a special interest group within the nonprofit Alcor’s Emergency Response capability includes specially trained technicians and Lifespan Society of BC (http://www.lifespanbc. customized equipment in Arizona, northern California, southern California, and south ca/) holds meetings for cryonicists in the Florida, as well as many additional certified technicians on-call around the United States. Alcor’s Arizona facility includes a full-time staff, and the Patient Care Bay is personally Vancouver area. To be notified of meetings join monitored 24 hours a day. the CryoBC mailing list: https://groups.yahoo. com/neo/groups/cryobc/info. ARIZONA FLORIDA Flagstaff: Arizona without the inferno. Central Florida Life Extension group TEXAS Cryonics group in beautiful, high-altitude meets once a month in the Tampa Bay area Dallas/North Texas: Please join us at Flagstaff. Two-hour drive to Alcor. Contact (Tampa and St. Petersburg) for discussion and www.meetup.com/North-Texas-Cryonauts/ or [email protected] for more information. socializing. The group has been active since contact David Wallace Croft at (214) 636-3790. 2007. Email [email protected] for PHOENIX: This group meets monthly, usually more information. Austin/Central Texas: A new group in the third week of the month. Dates are for the Austin area has been started for those determined by the activity or event planned. NEVADA interested in discussion and understanding For more information or to RSVP, visit http:// LAS VEGAS: A new group for the Las Vegas of the relevant technologies and issues for cryonics.meetup.com/45/ or email Bonnie areas has been started for those interested. cryopreservation, genomics, epigenetics and Magee at [email protected]. Contact Gilda Cabral at [email protected] or medical research for increased life/health span. Mike Korns at [email protected] for details Contact Tom Miller, 760-803-4107 or tom@ At Alcor: Alcor Board of Directors Meetings on upcoming meetings. blackmagicmissileworks.com. and Facility Tours—Alcor business meetings are generally held on the second Saturday of NEW ENGLAND JAPAN every month starting at 11:00 AM MST. Guests Cambridge: The New England regional Cryonics meetings are held monthly in Tokyo. are welcome to attend the fully-public board group strives to meet monthly in Cambridge, Send queries to [email protected]. meetings. Facility tours are held every Tuesday MA—for information or to be added to at 10:00 AM and Friday at 2:00 PM. For more the Alcor NE mailing list, please contact ALCOR PORTUGAL information or to schedule a tour, call Marji Bret Kulakovich at 617-824-8982, alcor@ Alcor Portugal is working to have good Klima at (877) 462-5267 x101 or email marji@ bonfireproductions.com, or on FACEBOOK via stabilization and transport capabilities. The alcor.org. the Cryonics Special Interest Group. group meets every Saturday for two hours. For information about meetings, contact Nuno CALIFORNIA NEW YORK CITY Martins at [email protected]. The Alcor Los Angeles: Alcor Southern California Alcor members in the NYC area can contact Portugal website is: www.alcorportugal.com. Meetings—For information, call Peter Voss at Javier El-Hage at [email protected] for (310) 822-4533 or e-mail him at peter@ information about local meetings which are held SWITZERLAND optimal.org. Although monthly meetings are not once a month at a midtown location. CryoSuisse, the Swiss Society for Cryonics held regularly, you can meet Los Angeles Alcor To join, email: [email protected] Website: members by contacting Peter. PACIFIC NORTHWEST www.cryosuisse.ch Alcor Pacific Northwest organizes meetings San Francisco Bay: Alcor Northern for Alcor members in the Pacific Northwest. UNITED KINGDOM California Meetings are held quarterly in Meetings are usually held in the Portland area Alcor members in the UK can contact Garret January, April, July, and October. A CryoFeast is but other locations are possible, too. The contact Smyth at [email protected] for information held once a year. For information on Northern person for the meetings is Aschwin de Wolf: about local meetings. California meetings, call Mark Galeck at (650) [email protected]. See also: https://www. 772-1251 or email [email protected]. facebook.com/alcor.pnw/

If you are interested in hosting regular meetings in your area, contact Alcor at 877-462-5267, ext. 113. Meetings are a great way to learn about cryonics, meet others with similar interests, and introduce your friends and family to Alcor members!

46 Cryonics / November-December 2018 www.alcor.org What is Cryonics?

ryonics is an attempt to preserve and protect human life, not reverse death. It is the practice of using extreme Ccold to attempt to preserve the life of a person who can no longer be supported by today’s medicine. Will future medicine, including mature nanotechnology, have the ability to heal at the cellular and molecular levels? Can cryonics successfully carry the cryopreserved person forward through time, for however many decades or centuries might be necessary, until the cryopreservation process can be reversed and the person restored to full health? While cryonics may sound like science fiction, there is a basis for it in real science. The complete scientific story of cryonics is seldom told in media reports, leaving cryonics widely misunderstood. We invite you to reach your own conclusions.

How do I find out more?

he Alcor Life Extension Foundation is the world leader in cryonics research and technology. Alcor is a non- Tprofit organization located in Scottsdale, Arizona, founded in 1972. Our website is one of the best sources of detailed introductory information about Alcor and cryopreservation (www.alcor.org). We also invite you to request our FREE information package on the “Free Information” section of our website. It includes:

• A fully illustrated color brochure • A sample of our magazine • An application for membership and brochure explaining how to join • And more!

Your free package should arrive in 1-2 weeks. (The complete package will be sent free in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom.)

How do I enroll? Signing up for cryopreservation is easy! Step 1: Fill out an application and submit it with your $90 application fee. Step 2: You will then be sent a set of contracts to review and sign. Step 3: Fund your cryopreservation. While most people use life insurance to fund their cryopreservation, other forms of prepayment are also accepted. Alcor’s Membership Coordinator can provide you with a list of insurance agents familiar with satisfying Alcor’s current funding requirements. Finally: After enrolling, you will wear emergency alert tags or carry a special card in your wallet. This is your confirmation that Alcor will respond immediately to an emergency call on your behalf.

Not ready to make full arrangements for cryopreservation? Thenbecome an Associate Member for $5/month (or $15/ quarter or $60 annually). Associate Members will receive: • Cryonics magazine by mail • Discounts on Alcor conferences • Access to post in the Alcor Member Forums • A dollar-for-dollar credit toward full membership sign-up fees for any dues paid for Associate Membership

To become an Associate Member send a check or money order ($5/month or $15/quarter or $60 annually) to Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, or call Marji Klima at (480) 905-1906 ext. 101 with your credit card information. You can also pay using PayPal (and get the Declaration of Intent to Be Cryopreserved) here: http://www.alcor.org/BecomeMember/associate.html

Call toll-free TODAY to start your application:

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