‘Trek’ Convention Co-Founder Joan Winston Passes Away
Joan Winston, one of the founders of the very first Star Trek convention, passed away this week.
Mark Milton, a relative of Winston’s, posted on a Doctor Who mailing list overnight, “I came home today to learn that Joan Winston, co-founder of the Star Trek conventions, author of Star Trek Lives! and The Making of the Trek Conventions as well as many other books and short stories, had passed away. As some of you know, she’s my father-in-law’s first cousin and I enjoyed her greatly. She was quite a gal. Details of how/why are still sketchy but services are Sunday at 9:30 at (as best as I can tell) the Plaza funeral home in Manhattan. I don’t know if that is what it’s actually called, we’re contacting the rabbi tomorrow.”
Winston was part of what became known as The Committee, the fans who figured out how to run a convention dedicated to a single subject, something previously untried. The very first con, in 1972, expected a few hundred people and wound up hosting 3000 rabid fans eager to hear Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and science fiction author Isaac Asmiov chat. By the time the group retired in 1976 with their final show, over 10,000 fans would pack New York City hotels, spawning a new kind of fan-run show that endures around the world today.
Her chapter in Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Sondra Marshak’s Star Trek Lives! provided people with a glimpse into the birth of the conventions along with a take on the Star Trek fan fiction world. She continued to talk about those days, providing information to William Shatner for his Get a Life! memoir and can be seen on camera in Denise Crosby’s documentary Trekkies 2.
After retiring from running cons, she became a professional author and later worked as a literary agent before illness confined her to an assistant living facility earlier this year.
Services will be held Sunday September 14th, 2008 at the Plaza Funeral Home located at 630 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan at 9:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale located at 5901 Palisade AvenueBronx , NY 10471 (718) 581-1417 (phone) who cared for her in her final months.
FYI, Mark Milton was forwarding my post to the Dr. Who mailing list. She was MY father-in-law's first cousin. Tracy
Services will be held Sunday September 14th, 2008 at the Plaza Funeral Home located at 630 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan at 9:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale located at 5901 Palisade AvenueBronx , NY 10471 (718) 581-1417 (phone) who cared for her in her final months.
Memorial tributes to Joanie Winston can be read and posted on the Sime~Gen website, co-owned by her co-author, Jacqueline Lichtenberg. We at Sime~Gen invite you to visit:http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/rimonslibrary/cz/…
Memorial tributes to Joanie Winston can be read on the Sime~Gen website, co-owned by her co-author, Jacqueline Lichtenberg. We at Sime~Gen invite you to visit:http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/rimonslibrary/cz/…To add a memorial message, email Karen MacLeod, by clicking her link on the bottom of the page.
I was 15 when I met Joan Winston at the 3rd Trek Con in 1974, and she instantly recruited me to be a "Helper" because I was tall. :-) Joanie was a great lady who inspired many a young girl like me that we could do anything if we just tried. I found her grace and humor and determination astounding. Her work caused me to meet new people and be exposed to new ideas and certaintly changed my life for the better. I will miss you, Joanie. PeaceCindi Casby