Star Trek was more than a TV series. It was a cultural battering ram, hitting at issues that still cripple us today, and inspiring generations to follow paths in STEM. Walter Koenig was an inspiration to millions, including me. RIP Ensign Chekov. You and your fellow trekkers are legacy.
My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today. Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades. When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man.