Nationality American Role Chemist Alma mater New York University Education New York University | Occupation Chemist, biochemist Awards Robert A. Heinlein Award Name Virginia Heinlein | |
 | ||
Full Name Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld Born April 22, 1916 ( 1916-04-22 ) Brooklyn, New York, United States Known for Founder of The Heinlein Society Died January 18, 2003, Florida, United States Spouse Robert A. Heinlein (m. 1948–1988) People also search for Robert A. Heinlein, Bam Lyle Heinlein, Rex Ivar Heinlein | ||
Organizations founded Heinlein Society | ||
Virginia "Ginny" Heinlein (April 22, 1916 – January 18, 2003), born Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld, was a chemist, biochemist, engineer, and the third wife of Robert A. Heinlein, a prominent and successful author often considered as one of the "Big Three" of science fiction (along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke).
Life and career
Born to George and Jeanne Gerstenfeld, Virginia was raised in Brooklyn and had one brother, Leon. She was red-haired, an organic chemist and biochemist, and served as an inspiration for many of the active and talented red-haired women in Heinlein's stories. She met Robert when they both worked at the Naval Air Experimental Station in Philadelphia when she was a lieutenant in the WAVES in the U.S. Navy in World War II. She moved to Los Angeles in 1946 to take an advanced degree, where Heinlein had already relocated after the war. They married on October 21, 1948 in Raton, New Mexico. Shortly thereafter they moved to Colorado, but in 1965 her health was chronically affected by the altitude, so the couple moved to Bonny Doon, California.
Prior to a trip to the Soviet Union (where they happened to be when Francis Gary Powers was shot down in his U-2 spyplane), Virginia learned to speak Russian, which proved invaluable in talking with local citizens. She was highly esteemed among her husband's fans for her exceptional willingness to correspond with them and/or to otherwise acknowledge them. This continued until her last days, with activity in a Usenet newsgroup devoted to Heinlein fans. She was very touched when other users sent her Mother's Day greetings, an homage to her bestowing the title of "Heinlein's Children" on Robert's fans worldwide.
After Robert's death in 1988, she moved from California to Florida. She edited a collection of his letters and writings which was published in 1989 as Grumbles from the Grave. She authorised the publication of Tramp Royale and longer editions of the previously published works Stranger in a Strange Land, The Puppet Masters, and Red Planet. She established a literary society in her husband's name, the Heinlein Society.