After it had been announced that Leonard Nimoy had passed away at the age of 83 from COPD, President Obama issued a statement that paid tribute to the man who brought Spock to life.
In a statement, the president said:
Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy. Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time. And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.
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I loved Spock.
In 2007, I had the chance to meet Leonard in person. It was only logical to greet him with the Vulcan salute, the universal sign for “Live long and prosper.” And after 83 years on this planet – and on his visits to many others – it’s clear Leonard Nimoy did just that. Michelle and I join his family, friends, and countless fans who miss him so dearly today.
To anyone who was a child during the 1970s when Star Trek became a pop culture phenomenon through reruns, Leonard Nimoy will always be Spock. Nimoy will also always be known as the person who replaced Rod Serling as the host of In Search of… But Nimoy was so much more. He was a published poet, and an accomplished photographer.
In recent months, Nimoy appeared to be saying goodbye on Twitter.
His final tweet a few days ago was:
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015
Leonard Nimoy became a timeless pop culture icon by playing Spock, but the man demonstrated a warmth and care for others that will be deeply missed.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
