Remembering Leonard Nimoy on his 90th birthday

Leonard Nimoy would have been 90 today. He was taken from us far too soon, but he left behind a legacy that will continue long after all of us are gone. It wasn’t just his portrayal of Spock that endeared us to Nimoy, although we’ll certainly never forget the pointy-eared Vulcan he portrayed on Star Trek: The Original Series. Nimoy exuded a love of life, of acting, and had a unique way of connecting with fans that far exceeded his time spent on Star Trek.

"I’m touched by the idea that when we do things that are useful and helpful – collecting these shards of spirituality – that we may be helping to bring about a healing."

Along with being an actor, he was a musician, a photographer, a writer, a director, a poet, and had one of the biggest, most generous hearts. He, along with his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, founded the Nimoy Foundation in 2003, a nonprofit that generated grants for visual arts and artists. He also worked with the American Cancer Society, the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the March of Dimes, and Belt T’Shuvah, which has the Susan & Leonard Nimoy Career Center that focuses on helping recovering addicts and alcoholics find jobs that are suitable with their skillset.

He used his time on earth for good, to encourage others, to raise awareness about COPD and the dangers of smoking, and to add beauty to this world. Even his last tweet, written just days before his death was a beautiful reminder that we will remember the perfect moments.

Few people have had the impact on the world Leonard Nimoy did in his 83 years, and while his outreach may have started with a set of foam rubber ears, Nimoy carried it into the far-reaching parts of the world…even the galaxy. And though there will continue to be other Spocks, there will never be another Leonard Nimoy.

"I believe in goodness, mercy and charity. I believe in casting bread upon the waters."