Majel Barrett Roddenberry, R.I.P.

First Lady of Star Trek, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, has died at the age of 76, from leukemia.

I think she probably embodied the nerd female and a great female to watch for nerds of a generation. So many of my friends and I identified with her Star Trek (the original series) character, Nurse Christine Chapel, especially as she batted her eyes at the extremely fascinating Mr. Spock. The Vulcan was, after all, irresistible to any rational woman. And, besides, she was an accomplished professional in her own right, with real abilities and a mind to her credit. In the sexist world of 1960s television, she was pretty impressive stuff. Not to mention, she had been originally cast not as a nurse, but as second in command on Captain Pike's ship.... Take that, Riker!

In later years, too, she was the envy of us all, remaining at the center of Gene Roddenberry's universe, in front of the cameras as well as in command, during the making of new series.

She is survived by a son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr. and by the dreams she helped her late husband build.