Day 157

Albert Einstein was a patient at this hospital (which is now an apartment building) in 1948; he had his abdominal aorta reinforced to ward off the rupture of an aneurysm that was discovered by his surgeon. After recovering from this procedure, he lived another 6+ years before the aneurysm finally burst in 1955. He refused further surgery at that point, saying "It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go."

Einstein had specifically requested that no memorial service be held for him, and that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered without ceremony in a secret location. His wishes were mostly followed, except for that one guy who removed his brain and kept it for the next four decades.