When Leonard Nimoy sent his final tweet into the virtual world of social media, did he have any idea that it would turn into a eulogy? From his best friend William Shatner to life-long fans of Star Trek and even to NASA, the man whom the world knew simply as Spock is being mourned on Twitter and Facebook after losing his battle with COPD at the age of 83, reported ABC News .
And of the many who served on the Starship Enterprise, it is Captain Kirk (William Shatner) for whom the loss cuts most deeply.
“I loved him like a brother,” revealed Shatner via Facebook. “We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love.”
Another of his fellow Star Trek co-stars mourning his loss was George Takei, who also posted his tribute.
“Today, the world lost a great man, and I lost a great friend. We return you now to the stars, Leonard. You taught us to ‘Live Long And Prosper,’ and you indeed did, friend. I shall miss you in so many, many ways.”
In addition, Takei reflected on Nimoy’s final tweet, posting it on his Facebook page.
“Before he passed, Leonard Nimoy tweeted one final thought: ‘A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP’”
But of all the tributes paid, perhaps one that might have most charmed Nimoy himself came from an unexpected source — NASA.
“RIP Leonard Nimoy. So many of us at NASA were inspired by Star Trek. Boldly go…” posted @NASA, with a special tribute page .
In that tribute, NASA noted that Star Trek inspired many of its own officials and crew in their mission to explore space. Not only did Nimoy inspired them, but he even narrated a video prior to the Dawn mission launch.
And as the Inquisitr reported, Nimoy even inspired the cast of The Big Bang Theory . When producers were asked to name the most beloved episode of all time, they instantly named the one where Nimoy’s DNA on a napkin makes Sheldon actually hug Penny. Watch below.
http://youtu.be/OvNXolkz8-c
Nimoy’s death was linked to end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reported the New York Times . He had smoked for years, and despite quitting 30 years ago, Nimoy continued to battle the condition.
As to what his famous sign-off meant?
“Live long and prosper” comes from the Vulcan “Dif-tor heh smusma.”
[Images Via NASA ; Photo By Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
