Irwin Stone, a truly great pioneer in the field of vitamin C research, died on May 4, 1984, at the age of 77. Irwin was in Los Angeles to receive an award from the Academy of Orthomolecular Psychiatry and the Orthomolecular Medical Society. He was also to have received a surprise award from the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. The death was accidental, caused by choking on regurgitated food. As the result of a near-fatal auto accident in 1960, in which severe throat injuries were sustained, Irwin suffered from a constricted esophagus, which made choking on food an ever-present danger.
Irwin Stone began his study of vitamin C, which he referred to as ascorbate, in 1932, as a chemist for the Wallerstein Company in New York. He was interested in the anti-oxidant properties of ascorbic acid, then newly discovered, as a means of protecting food against deterioration. He continued his study of vitamin C for the next 50 years, thereby making an immense contribution to the welfare of mankind.
Stone applied for three patents for the industrial use of vitamin C, in 1935, the first in history. Albert Szent-Györgyi received the Nobel Prize in medicine for his work on vitamin C only two years later, in 1937. Stone received a total of 26 patents, for his work in vitamin C as well as in other fields.
In the 1950s it became clear to Stone that humans would benefit from ingesting much larger amounts of ascorbates than the medical and nutritional establishments considered adequate. After he retired from his paid employment and moved to San Jose in 1971, he devoted the rest of his life to studying and publicizing the need for multi-gram daily consumption of vitamin C by humans. His 1972 book The Healing Factor is considered a classic.
In April 1966 Irwin Stone met Linus Pauling, who found him to be extraordinarily well-informed and convincing. Pauling credits this meeting with Stone as the starting point of his own interest in vitamin C.
Irwin Stone received many awards and honors during his lifetime, including two honorary doctorates. He was the author of over 120 scientific papers including at least 50 on vitamin C.
Irwin's survivors include his beloved wife of over 50 years, Barbara, and his son Steven, a patent attorney. His memory will be honored and cherished by all of us who were fortunate enough to know him.
Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.
Fred R. Klenner, M.D., another great pioneer in research on vitamin C, died at the age of 76 on May 20, 1984, just two weeks after the death of his long time friend Irwin Stone. Klenner continued his practice of medicine in Reidsville N.C. until February 1984, seeing as many as 30 to 40 patients a day, until his failing heart caused his retirement.
Klenner's bold and successful use of mega-doses of vitamin C during the polio epidemics of the 1940s came to the attention of both Irwin Stone and Adelle Davis, who perceived the enormous value of this approach and were thus stimulated to increase their own efforts to carry the message to the medical profession and the public.
Klenner’s use of high-dosage vitamin C in pregnancy resulted in greatly improved health for both mother and infant, and greatly reduced the duration of labor. In addition to his well-known work on vitamin C, Klenner has also published on the use of megadoses of other vitamins; especially the B vitamins in treating neurological diseases.
Klenner has received a number of awards for his important work. His survivors include his wife Ann, their son Fred R. Klenner Jr., M.D., and two daughters.
From Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 1984, Volume 13, Number 4, p. 285
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