Our world is a bit dimmer for his passing. He was amazing in many ways & will be remembered for some time through his writings. He will be missed.
I know you mean well as an Atheist eulogizing Hawkings but he never planned an afterlife nor miraculous escape from his chair for 2/3rds of his life ....his children are in charge of his remains. ..I doubt creamains will be launched into space by Elon Musk
Not an athiest, and to me it's about his fascination with the cosmos, his understanding of it unfettered by his physical state, and an acknowledgement that we come from stardust and will one day return to stardust.