A Long And Prosperous Life: Leonard Nimoy Passes Away At 83

A Long And Prosperous Life: Leonard Nimoy Passes Away At 83

 
“Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most . . . human.” These were the words of Admiral James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” when delivering the eulogy for his friend, Captain Spock.

But they are decidedly resonant today with the announcement that actor Leonard Nimoy passed away at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles at age 83. The beloved actor revealed in 2014 that he was battling lung disease.

 “Spock inspired a whole generation to become scientists,” said Kerry Jackson of “Radio From Hell” and the Geek Show Podcast, speaking to Gephardt Daily. “And he inspired me to be a good friend.”

The Salt Lake Comic Con Facebook group is exploding with posts mourning the loss of once the great icons of science fiction.

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“I always thought he was one of the best things about the show,” said Nancy Jensen, a West Valley City resident. “That cool calm personae that hid the human underneath. It has left a little hole in my heart today.”

 “l’m very sorry to hear about his passing,” said Julie Caitlin-Brown, a entertainment manager in Sherman Oaks, California who worked with Nimoy. Brown had actually not heard the news until Gephardt Daily contacted her. “I actually took him out to some conventions,” she said, adding that she got to meet his family. “We went to Italy together. He always such a warm and great guy.”

Bryan Brandenburg, co-founder and chief marketing officer for Salt Lake Comic Con, spoke to us about the stunned reaction of fans, and about Nimoy’s appearance via Skype at the 2014 convention at the Salt Palace. “He still had a great personality but you tell he was really sick,” said Brandenburg.  “He was having a hard time breathing. Even started out singing a song for us and he really struggled with that because of his breathing.”

Brandenberg added that Nimoy in the number one topic on Facebook right now. It’s the number one topic today. “A lot of talk about it in our group, we’re probably the last show he did before he passed,” Brandenburg said. “When a legend like that passes, it just really puts you in a contemplative mood. The end of an era.”

Stan Clawson, a film instructor at Salt lake Community College, has found memories of Nimoy. “When I first saw Star Trek II back in ’82, I cried when Spock died. It hit me hard.” Clawson said.  “In ’94, Nimoy happened to be sitting a few rows behind me at a Sundance screening. My friends and I said hello and he was incredibly warm and receptive. His passing most definitely leaves a void. He was a true original.”