Williams Wanted Cremation

INVERNESS, Fla. — In a will filed and made public Tuesday, Ted Williams said he wanted his ashes “sprinkled at sea off the coast of Florida where the water is very deep.”

Williams also specified that he didn’t want a funeral or memorial service.

But after he wrote his will Dec. 20, 1996, the Hall of Famer expressed a desire to have his body frozen, according to the executor of the will, Albert Cassidy.

“After the time of his will, Ted chose to have his body cryonically preserved,” Cassidy said.

He presented no documents to support his statement and refused to say how he knew of Williams’ wish to be frozen.

Along with the will, Cassidy filed a petition asking a judge that Williams’ body remain in a cryonics lab in Arizona.

The conflict between Williams’ will and his later wishes came hours after his three children acknowledged they failed to resolve a stalemate over their father’s remains, perhaps setting the stage for a contentious court battle over the will.

John Henry Williams and Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell, his half sister, have been fighting over their father’s remains since the Boston Red Sox great died July 5 at age 83.

Williams had his father’s body flown to Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Ariz., to be frozen, against the wishes of Ferrell.