âMemory Foamâ Inventor Diagnosed With Alzheimerâs Disease
Professor Gerald Harding, NASA scientist best known as âThe Grandfather of Memory Foam,â has been diagnosed with Alzheimerâs disease.âProfessor Harding is the worldâs foremost authority on synthetic materials and their application,â said Gerald Harding, Jr., son of the inventor.Â  âHis NASA research in the 1970s improved the lives of many, so it is with sadness that we report to you the current condition of his health.âThe announcement was made so that focus would not be lost on the illness.Although the foam is currentlyÂ associated with furniture and mattresses, it was originally developed by Professor Harding to improve cushioning for pilots and astronauts during long-duration flights and missions, and to protect test pilots and aviators from injury.Professor Harding began exhibiting signs of memory loss and general dementia some time ago.Â  Gerald, Jr. spoke of his fatherâs illness.âHeâd go into the kitchen and forget why. Â We all do that occasionally, but it got worse as time went on.Â  Heâd come back into the living room, sit down and ask âIs this a new chair?Â  Itâs so comfortable!ââGerald, Jr. would explain that the professor himself invented the very foam that made the chair so pleasant.âSometimes heâd remember, sometimes he wouldnât.Â  The chair remembered him more than he remembered the chair.ââYou know,â said Gerald, Jr. âthe disease has mellowed him out.Â  Heâs enjoying things now that he never had time to enjoy beforeâA tribute dinner is planned.