Dr. Isaac Asimov

Here's an abridged timeline of Dr. Asimov's life:

• October 4, 1919-January 2, 1920 Possible range of actual date of birth, actual date uncertain. Born in Petrovichi, Smolensk Oblast, Russia.
• Winter, 1921 Isaac Asimov is one of 16 chlidren to catch double pnemonia, and the only one to survive.
• 1923 Emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 3.
• 1928 Naturalized as a US citizen at the age of 8.
• March 1939 Young Isaac Asimov is published for the first time, having sold "Marooned off Vesta" to the magazine Amazing Stories.
• May 1939 Earned his BS in chemistry at the age of 18 from University Extension (later the Columbia University School of General Studies).
• 1941 Coined the term "robotics" in the short story "Liar!". He later remarked that he thought at the time that he was using an already extant word.
• 1947 Writes a spoof scientific paper as practice for his upcoming doctoral dissertation. His examiners effectively delivered their favorable verdict on his dissertation by good-naturedly asking him a final question about "thiotimoline". He had to be led from the room, as he was laughing hysterically in relief.
• 1948 Earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in biochemistry.
• 1972 His novel The Gods Themselves wins that year's Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for Best Novel.
• 1984 Named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association (AHA). Served as honorary president of the AHA from 1985 until his death in 1992.
• December 1983 Undergoes a triple bypass surgery, during which he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.
• April 6, 1992 Dies from kidney failure arising from complications related to AIDS.