Why do Trekkies have to gather to bid Majel Barrett-Roddenberry farewell?”
Trekkies gather to bid Majel Barrett-Roddenberry farewell 5:22 PM | January 4, 2009 Trekkies — and some “Star Trek” cast members — gather in L.A. today to honor a Bel Air woman who many consider central to the making of the franchise. What brought out Lt. Uhura, Mr. Sulu and Mr. Chekov? Gene Johnson of City News Service explains: More than 250 family, friends and trekkies from across the “Star Trek” universe gathered at a Los Angeles cemetery to bid farewell to the voice of the starship Enterprise today. Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died two weeks ago, just a few weeks after laying down audio tracks for the upcoming “Star Trek” movie in her recurring role as the ship’s computer voice. She was 76, and her funeral today was opened to fans of the TV show by her survivors. Unlike most “Star Trek” gatherings, few people wore costumes at the packed funeral, inside the Hall of Liberty at the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills cemetery. Other than three people wearing Star Fleet Academy formal tunic
Friends, family and fans gathered this weekend to bid a final farewell to Star Trek actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry. More than 250 people attended the funeral Sunday in Los Angeles. Roddenberry was the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and had been involved in the Star Trek universe for more than four decades. The 76-year-old Roddenberry died of leukemia Dec. 18 at her Bel-Air home. Among the mourners were Star Trek stars Nichelle Nichols, George Takei and Walter Koenig. Three people wore Star Fleet Academy formal tunics, and many others sported Star Trek rings, pins or medallions. Roddenberry played the dark-haired Number One in the original pilot, but metamorphosed into the blond, miniskirted Nurse Christine Chapel in the original 1966-69 TV series.
