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{{short description|American scientist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Virginia Heinlein
| name = Virginia "Ginny" Heinlein
|image = Heinlein Tahiti 2.jpg
| image = Heinlein Tahiti 2.jpg
|image_size =
| image_size =
|caption = Robert and Virginia Heinlein in Tahiti, 1980.
| caption = Robert and Virginia Heinlein in 1980
|birth_name = Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld
| birth_name = Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|4|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|4|22}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|1|18|1916|4|22}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|1|18|1916|4|22}}
|death_place = [[Florida]], United States
| death_place = [[Atlantic Beach, Florida|Atlantic Beach]], Florida, U.S.
|death_cause =
| death_cause =
|resting_place =
| resting_place =
⚫
| other_names =
|nationality = American
⚫
| education = [[New York University]]<ref name=bio/>
⚫
|other_names =
| occupation = [[Chemist]], [[biochemist]], lieutenant commander USN<ref name="LA-T Obit">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-26-me-heinlein26-story.html |title=Virginia Heinlein, 86; Wife, Muse and Literary Guardian of Celebrated Science Fiction Writer |first=Elaine |last=Woo |date=January 26, 2003 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref>
|education =
⚫
| known_for = Founder of The Heinlein Society
⚫
|alma_mater = [[New York University]] <ref name=bio/>
⚫
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Robert A. Heinlein]]|1948|1988}}
|occupation = [[Chemist]], [[biochemist]], lieutenant commander USN <ref>http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/26/local/me-heinlein26</ref>
⚫
|known_for = Founder of The Heinlein Society
⚫
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Robert A. Heinlein]]|1948|1988}}
}}
}}

'''Virginia''' "'''Ginny'''" '''Heinlein''' (April 22, 1916 &ndash; 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]]).
'''Virginia Doris Heinlein''' (nee '''Gerstenfeld'''; April 22, 1916 &ndash; January 18, 2003) was an American chemist, biochemist, engineer, and the third wife and muse of [[Robert A. Heinlein]], a prominent and successful author often considered one of the "Big Three" of science fiction (along with [[Isaac Asimov]] and [[Arthur C. Clarke]]).


==Life and career==
==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.<ref name="latimes-obit">{{Citation
Born to George Joseph and Jeanne D Gerstenfeld (nee Rosenthal)',<ref>Marriage Announcement March 1, 1915, New York Times'</ref> Virginia was raised in [[Brooklyn]] with her brother Leon. A [[organic chemist]] and [[biochemist]], she served as an inspiration for many of the active and talented [[redhead|red-haired women]] in Heinlein's stories.<ref name="LA-T Obit"/> 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]].
| last = Woo | first = Elaine | title = Virginia Heinlein, 86; Wife, Muse and Literary Guardian of Celebrated Science Fiction Writer (free abstract) | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] | pages = B14 | date = 2003-01-26 | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/280532451.html?dids=280532451:280532451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+26%2C+2003&author=Elaine+Woo&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=B.14&desc=Obituaries%3B+Virginia+Heinlein%2C+86%3B+Wife%2C+Muse+and+Literary+Guardian+of+Celebrated+Science+Fiction+Writer}}</ref> 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 [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]] spyplane), Virginia learned to speak [[Russian language|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.
Prior to a trip to the [[Soviet Union]], where they happened to be when [[Francis Gary Powers]] was shot down, 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, a practice that continued until her last days, with activity in a [[Usenet]] newsgroup devoted to Heinlein fans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heinlein |first1=Virginia |title=A letter to Virginia Heinlein - response |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.fan.heinlein/c/7Oq5uLF-QjI/m/ILumyIu_FaUJ |website=alt.fan.heinlein |access-date=October 31, 2021 |date=November 26, 2002}}</ref> She was touched when other users sent her [[Mother's Day]] greetings as 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.<ref name="washmonthly-obit">{{Citation | last = Drum | first = Kevin | title = Virginia Heinlein | newspaper = [[The Washington Monthly]] | date = 2003-01-20 | url = http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2003_01/000193.php}}</ref> She edited a collection of his letters and writings which was published in 1989 as ''[[Grumbles from the Grave]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-23/news/vw-446_1_robert-heinlein| title=BOOK REVIEW : A Shallow Peek Into a Sci-Fi Grand Master| accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> She authorised the publication of ''[[Tramp Royale]]''<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-441-82184-6| title=Tramp Royale| accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> and longer editions of the previously published works ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]'',<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jan/12/heinlein-hugo-stranger-strange-land| title=Robert Heinlein's softer side|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Puppet Masters]]'', and ''[[Red Planet (novel)|Red Planet]]''. She established a literary society in her husband's name, the [[Heinlein Society]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web | last = James, PhD.| first = Robert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Biographies of Robert and Virginia Heinlein
After Robert's death in 1988, she moved from California to Florida,<ref name="washmonthly-obit">{{Citation | last = Drum | first = Kevin | title = Virginia Heinlein | newspaper = [[The Washington Monthly]] | date = January 20, 2003 | url = http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2003_01/000193.php}}</ref> where she edited a collection of his letters and writings, published in 1989 as ''[[Grumbles from the Grave]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-23-vw-446-story.html| title=BOOK REVIEW : A Shallow Peek Into a Sci-Fi Grand Master| website=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date=January 23, 1990| access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref> She authorised the publication of ''[[Tramp Royale]]''<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-441-82184-6| title=Tramp Royale| access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref> and longer editions of previously published works ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]'',<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/jan/12/heinlein-hugo-stranger-strange-land| title=Robert Heinlein's softer side| website=[[TheGuardian.com]]| date=January 12, 2009|access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Puppet Masters]]'', and ''[[Red Planet (novel)|Red Planet]]''. In 1997 she established a literary society in her husband's name, the [[Heinlein Society]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web | last = James, PhD.| first = Robert | title = Biographies of Robert and Virginia Heinlein
| work = | publisher = The Heinlein Society | date = 2001–2007 | url = http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/biographies.html | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-18}}</ref>
| publisher = The Heinlein Society | date = 2001–2007 | url = http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/biographies.html | access-date = October 18, 2007}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Heinlein (books)|state=collapsed}}
{{Heinlein (books)|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Heinlein, Virginia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heinlein, Virginia}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Scientists from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Women in the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Robert A. Heinlein]]
[[Category:Robert A. Heinlein]]
[[Category:American women in World War II]]
[[Category:Female United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:Muses (persons)]]
[[Category:WAVES personnel]]

Revision as of 13:40, 16 December 2024

Virginia "Ginny" Heinlein
Robert and Virginia Heinlein in 1980
Born
Virginia Doris Gerstenfeld

(1916-04-22)April 22, 1916
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 2003(2003-01-18) (aged 86)
Atlantic Beach, Florida, U.S.
EducationNew York University[1]
Occupation(s)Chemist, biochemist, lieutenant commander USN[2]
Known forFounder of The Heinlein Society
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1948⁠–⁠1988)​

Virginia Doris Heinlein (nee Gerstenfeld; April 22, 1916 – January 18, 2003) was an American chemist, biochemist, engineer, and the third wife and muse of Robert A. Heinlein, a prominent and successful author often considered one of the "Big Three" of science fiction (along with Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke).

Life and career

Born to George Joseph and Jeanne D Gerstenfeld (nee Rosenthal)',[3] Virginia was raised in Brooklyn with her brother Leon. A organic chemist and biochemist, she served as an inspiration for many of the active and talented red-haired women in Heinlein's stories.[2] 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, 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, a practice that continued until her last days, with activity in a Usenet newsgroup devoted to Heinlein fans.[4] She was touched when other users sent her Mother's Day greetings as 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,[5] where she edited a collection of his letters and writings, published in 1989 as Grumbles from the Grave.[6] She authorised the publication of Tramp Royale[7] and longer editions of previously published works Stranger in a Strange Land,[8] The Puppet Masters, and Red Planet. In 1997 she established a literary society in her husband's name, the Heinlein Society.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b James, PhD., Robert (2001–2007). "Biographies of Robert and Virginia Heinlein". The Heinlein Society. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Woo, Elaine (January 26, 2003). "Virginia Heinlein, 86; Wife, Muse and Literary Guardian of Celebrated Science Fiction Writer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Marriage Announcement March 1, 1915, New York Times'
  4. ^ Heinlein, Virginia (November 26, 2002). "A letter to Virginia Heinlein - response". alt.fan.heinlein. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Drum, Kevin (January 20, 2003), "Virginia Heinlein", The Washington Monthly
  6. ^ "BOOK REVIEW : A Shallow Peek Into a Sci-Fi Grand Master". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1990. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "Tramp Royale". Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "Robert Heinlein's softer side". TheGuardian.com. January 12, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
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