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William Terbo - Nikola Tesla's closest living relative (grand-nephew of Nikola Tesla), died on August 14, 2018

Nikola Tesla's closest living relative, great-nephew William Terbo, died on August 14, Belgrade media reported on Friday.

Terbo, a grandson of Nikola Tesla's oldest sister Angelina, claimed that he was the last living person to have met the scientist and inventor. Terbo was an inventor in his own right, media reports said adding that one of his inventions is part of all car transmissions.

According to an obituary released by a funeral home in New Jersey, Terbo grew up in Detroit and Florida and settled in New Jersey in 1990. He held a degree in mechanical engineering and worked for NASA and RCA before retiring in 1992. Terbo was a Founding Director, Chairman of the Executive Board and, since 1998, Executive Secretary of the Tesla Memorial Society, Inc.

Terbo devoted a part of his life to promoting and preserving his great-uncle's heritage. He is also thought to have helped prevent the removal of the urn with Tesla’s ashes from the Tesla museum in Belgrade for re-burial under a monument erected on the grounds of the Saint Sava temple in Belgrade.