Donald Triplett, a resident of Mississippi and the 1st person to receive an autism diagnosis, has passed away. Age-wise, he was around 89.
A notice published on the website of the Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest, Mississippi, where Triplett resided, announced Triplett’s passing on Thursday. According to Triplett’s nephew OB, he passed away from cancer.
As his uncle passed away gently, OB, who was by his side, stated, “I’ve loved him throughout my life.” He was simply enjoyable to be near. Each time you moved around, he would make you smile.
After becoming known for being the initial individual to be given an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis, Triplett was interviewed during his existence in news articles, books, a PBS film, and medical publications.
As per a section on Triplett in the Encyclopedia Britannica, he was the oldest child of a wealthy Mississippi family who struggled with social connections and had an extraordinary memory. According to the entry, Triplett’s parents and caregivers confused about what to do, admitted him to a state institution in 1937 until releasing him one year later.