Cremated June 26, 1969

He Was a Prophet of Space Travel. His Ashes Were Found in a Basement.

During his life, Willy Ley predicted the dawn of the Space Age with
remarkable accuracy. How did his remains end up forgotten in a co-op
on the Upper West Side?

The basement of the prewar co-op on the Upper West Side was so
cluttered and dark in one area that the staff called it "the Dungeon,"
and last year, the building's new superintendent resolved to clear it
out.
...
...
About halfway through the job, he spied an old tin can on a shelf next
to a leaf blower. He read the label:

"Remains of Willy Ley. Cremated June 26, 1969."

This was not the sort of thing you toss in a dumpster.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/nyregion/willy-ley-rocket-ashes.html?smtyp=cur&smid=bsky-nytimes