Editing Forrest J Ackerman (section)

==Death==
In 2003, Ackerman said, "I aim at hitting 100 and becoming the [[George Burns]] of science fiction". His health, however, had been failing. He had a major heart attack in 1966 and wore a pacemaker thereafter.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}  He was susceptible to infection in his later life and, after one final trip to the hospital in October 2008, informed his best friend and caregiver Joe Moe that he did not want to go on but hoped to live long enough to vote for Barack Obama in the November 2008 presidential election. Ackerman checked himself out of the hospital and refused further treatment, accepting only a hospice service. Honoring his wishes, his friends assisted him in holding what he delighted in calling "a living funeral". In his final days, he saw everyone he wanted to say goodbye to. Fans were encouraged to send messages of farewell by mail.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2008 |title=Forrest J Ackerman is slipping away |url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38960 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206042419/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38960 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2008 |website=Aint It Cool News}}</ref>

While there were several premature reports of his death in the month prior,<ref>these reports originated from a news article on the British Fantasy Society website; a correction was subsequently made. [http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/news British Fantasy Society website] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120213134/http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/news/ |date=November 20, 2008 }})</ref> Ackerman died a minute before midnight on December 4, 2008, at the age of 92.<ref name="guardian">{{Cite news |last=Carlson |first=Michael |date=December 7, 2008 |title=Forrest J Ackerman |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/dec/07/forrest-ackerman-science-fiction-obituary |url-status=live |access-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905072921/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/dec/07/forrest-ackerman-science-fiction-obituary |archive-date=September 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="time">{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Sci-Fi's No. 1 Fanboy, Forrest J Ackerman, Dies at 92 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1864854,00.html?imw=Y |url-status=dead |access-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207232437/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1864854,00.html?imw=Y |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="upi">{{Cite news |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Sci-fi superfan Ackerman dies at 92 |work=[[United Press International]] |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/12/06/Sci-fi_superfan_Ackerman_dies_at_92/UPI-38661228584032/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524133652/http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/12/06/Sci-fi_superfan_Ackerman_dies_at_92/UPI-38661228584032/ |archive-date=May 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>"Forry Ackerman: A Loyal and Staunch Friend". Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.&nbsp;215 (2009)C</ref><ref name="ap">{{Cite news |date=December 5, 2008 |title=Sci-fi's grand old man, Forrest J. Ackerman, dies |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/06/entertainment/main4651832.shtml?source=RSSattr=Entertainment_4651832 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208061748/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/06/entertainment/main4651832.shtml?source=RSSattr=Entertainment_4651832 |archive-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref> From his "Acker-mini-mansion" in Hollywood, he had entertained and inspired fans weekly with his collection of memorabilia and his stories.

Upon his death, the administration of Ackerman's estate was entrusted to his friend, television producer [[Kevin Burns]].  Burns was tasked with the sale and distribution of Mr. Ackerman's extensive collection of Science Fiction and Horror memorabilia.  Included in this were [[Bela Lugosi]]'s ring from ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' and [[Lon Chaney]]'s teeth and top hat from ''[[London After Midnight (film)|London After Midnight]]''.  There were eighteen beneficiaries named in Ackerman's will, including three waitresses from his favorite restaurant and hangout, "[[The House of Pies]]".{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}  His personal papers—books, correspondence, fan mail, and more—went to the Special Collections Research Center at [[Syracuse University]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hatem |first1=Cristina |title=Forrest J Ackerman Papers Now Open for Research |url=https://news.syr.edu/blog/2023/07/12/forrest-j-ackerman-papers-now-open-for-research/ |access-date=July 21, 2023 |work=[[Syracuse University News]] |date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> (he had made prior donations of material there, as well as to the [[University of Wyoming]], [[Eastern New Mexico University]], and the [[University of California]]).

Ackerman is interred at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)]] with his wife. His plaque simply reads, "Sci-Fi Was My High".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9g0WBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Sci-Fi+Was+My+High%22+%22forest+lawn%22+ackerman&pg=PA28 ''Disorders of Magnitude''], p. 28</ref>