I'm a huge Trek fan and I cannot let the day pass without a dKos diary in honor of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry.
The wife of the late Gene Roddenberry has passed away at 76 years of age.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
She was the First Lady of Star Trek and has been in every incarnation of the franchise from her first appearance in the initial pilot, "The Cage", as the first officer, "Number One" in 1964 all the way to the USS Enterprise's computer voice in the new 2009 Star Trek film.
After the pilot was re-worked in 1966, she took the roll of Christine Chapel, the ship's nurse that later would be a doctor in the motion picture era.
She was the voice of communications officer M'Ress, the felinoid officer who served alongside Uhura during the animated episodes of the 1970's.
In Star Trek The Next Generation, she was Betazoid Ambassador Lwaxana Troi.
But what really made her ubiquitous in the Star Trek universe was that she was the voice of the starship computers for The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and most of the Star Trek movies.
UPDATE:
(before this rolls off of the rec list, here is some info from http://roddenberry.com/)
Condolences can be sent via email to share@roddenberry.com or by mail to:
Roddenberry Productions
4400 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Suite 100
Studio City, CA 91604
The family thanks you very much for your thoughts and sentiments. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that a donation in Majel's name be made to one of the two following organizations, who share Majel's love for animals and dedication to animal rescue.
Precious Paws
18034 Ventura Blvd., #430
Encino, CA 91316
www.preciouspaws.org
(818) 304-5595
C.A.R.E.
P.O. Box 56631
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.care4pets.org
(818) 685-9980
And a poll...