Stanford Ovshinsky, a man who introduced the idea of glass transistors which paved way for modern flat-screen monitors has passed away. He's well known for designing the battery now used in hybrid cars and the electronics field of ovonics was named after him.
(http://www.evworld.com/press/stanford_ovshinsky1980.jpg)
credit:evworld
Just like the few but great other inventors, he received various honorary degrees and awards but had no formal education after high school. He claimed to have taught himself science by using the public libraries of Ohio where he grew up.
He has died aged 89 from prostate cancer.
ref:bbc