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. Just last month, on Sept. 14, he turned 90, on the same day Brad and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I will always treasure that he and I shared that date.
Walter was more than Chekov. He was a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend. To the fans who loved him for so many years, thank you. He loved you too.
Rest well, my dear friend. Keep navigating a steady course.
– George
@georgetakei I met him at a convention in Phoenix early 80s, Ted Sturgeon was there also as I remember. Told him I was studying Russian and why he used w in vessel. Said his granddad was Ukrainian (Glory to Ukraine!), that's how he pronounced it. No w in Russian, maybe a diphthong. Possibly some other influence, maybe Crimean Tartars or something. Anyone out there have a good guess.
Must say his death saddened me more than expected.
Best to his family and other loved ones.