In Memory of Leonard Nimoy

As a trio of nerds, we are saddened by the passing of Leonard Nimoy. In tribute, we’ve all written a little about what he meant to us. LLAP

Hollyanna:

I came late to the Star Trek universe, but Leonard Nimoy was an ever-present part of my world even before I fell in love with the show. He didn’t fit into the same categories that other celebrities did. He felt, somehow, more familiar and kindred, like a super-cool, but distant uncle.  He was like the kooky relative that you really wish came to more family gatherings. The one who told the best stories and gave the best advice. He was noble, spirited, funny and just a little bit weird.

The older I got, the more I respected Nimoy‘s place in the community around me. He wasn’t just a great actor and director, he was also a poet, a photographer, an advocate for human rights, a strong supporter of the arts, an advocate for science and an all-around good human being. He wasn’t just a celebrity, he was a folk hero who will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

Jessica:

When I was young, my family lived on an Air Force base in Japan. The base only had two TV stations with English programming which played tapes sent over from the US. Usually there was quite a delay on episodes of currently running shows, so they favored popular, completed series, especially for those long blocks of weekend programming. This was how, on Sunday afternoons, my father began my Star Trek education with the crew of the USS Enterprise.

I identified with Mr. Spock almost right away. He was smart, serious, and didn’t always understand emotional cues, but he had a good heart and used logic to be fair. Spock wasn’t brash like Kirk, and Bones was always making a fuss. I liked Mr. Spock, and as I grew up, I found I liked Mr. Nimoy, too. A charitable man, he supported cancer research, human rights, and developing artists. His book of photography, The Shekhina Project, explored the divine feminine while using beautiful, body-positive imagery of women. He had such an impact on the ever-growing geek community, helping popularize convention culture and encouraging young fans. Whether singing about Bilbo Baggins or voicing caricatures of himself, he never seemed to take himself too seriously. With a quiet, gentle sense of humor about him, he was like an honorary geeky grandfather to a nerdy girl who dreamed of being a science officer, too.

Thank you for inspiring us to find our own stars, Mr. Nimoy. LLAP.