How many times has death been a part of this journal? Too often. And now, there's more.

Roy Brocksmith, who guest-starred in the episode "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" passed away on December 16. He had suffered kidney failure as a result of diabetes. He was only 56 years old, if my math is correct.

Roy beamed into the Star Trek universe in two different series. First, and probably his best-known role, was as Sirna Kolrami in ST:TNG. Who was Sirna? I didn't know the character's name either. in "Peak Performance" Riker is given command of a starship for war games. He, Worf, and Wesley are sent to the ship and have to make it ready to defend itself against the Enterprise. Roy played the warmaster. He was also a game player himself, and played a game in Ten-Forward, which everyone - including Data - lost. He had never before been defeated, until at the end, Data embraces his Humanity, and wins the game.

In DS9's "Indiscretion" Roy played Razka Karn, a long-time friend of Kira's.

It is ... weird ... thinking of him as being no longer with us. Back in July, he signed autographs for me, including an 8x10 picture and a card.

I did a search on Roy, and found quite a few websites with tidbits of information about him. Almost always it was the same information, about his appearances on Trek, B5, and Ally McBeal. startrek.com and imdb.com have his date of death listed, along with the reason. Only variety.com has an obituary. I have written them and asked their permission to include that obit here with you. In the meantime, you can click on that link and do a search for his name on their site.

Roy is the second guest star that I KNOW has passed away from B5. The first was Gregory McKinney, who played Walker Smith in the first season "TKO" ... He died on April 12, 1998, from a brain aneurysm.

What else do we have for tragic news today?

Yesterday, a 15 year old student pilot took control of a small airplane down in Tampa Florida. His instructor was not with him at the time. He flew the aircraft into a 40-tower skyscraper, in a morbid reinactment of 9/11. As far as the authorities know now, he was the only person who was killed.

How much more tragedy can this country take?

On a positive note (I had to leave this on a positive), I was able to get a card signed by Marie Marshall. Marie was in "Day of the Dead" (Babylon 5, 5th season) and was one of my most-wanted autographs. Scan coming when I get to it. Yeah, yeah, I like to do them in groups, 5-10 at a time. Deal with it, ok? :)

Now, Bridget Flanery (Zoe, also in "Day of the Dead") moves up a spot in the most-wanted category!

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