Page 109 - DK Life Stories Albert Einstein by AELC

think and jot down his latest ideas. Since he

had no real sailing skill, though, he often got
himself into trouble. He would get lost, run

aground, or slam into other people’s boats
because he wasn’t paying attention.

As active as Albert was, however, he was
beginning to experience some health issues,

and he knew his time was becoming very
limited. Albert had had surgery in 1948 to

treat an aneurysm—the weakening of an
artery, through which blood flows—in his

abdomen. On April 15, 1955, however, the
reinforcement of that aneurysm finally gave

out, causing it to rupture, or break. This
led to a bout of severe internal bleeding.

Although Albert was rushed to Princeton
Hospital, he refused to have the surgery

required to treat it. At the time, he said,
“It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I

have done my share, it is time to go.” He
eventually lost consciousness and passed

away on the morning of April 18, 1955,
at the age of 76.

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