EGN NEWS DESK
Troy Nelson and his youthful brother Andrew had been virtually inseparable.
The two youngest of six, they had been born two years aside. They lived collectively of their childhood dwelling in Bremerton, Wash., for greater than half a century. Near their dwelling, there’s a park bench on which they carved their initials as younger boys.
The Nelson brothers by no means married or had kids. They labored collectively on the identical senior dwelling. They even as soon as, as youngsters, dated the identical lady on the identical time whereas working completely different shifts on the identical pizza store. This lasted every week till they realized it.
“Two elements of 1 physique,” Evan Browne, their older sister, mentioned of their relationship in an interview.
On Feb. 28, Andrew Nelson, who had been handled for most cancers for years, went to feed the chickens and geese that had been presents from Ms. Browne to her brothers. He had a coronary heart assault and died. He was 55. Just hours later, Troy Nelson, who was stricken with grief, took his personal life. He was 57.
“He had talked about it earlier than,” Browne, 66, mentioned, tearfully. “He mentioned, ‘Hey, if Andrew goes, I’m out of right here. I’m testing.’ Andrew would say the identical factor, after which it actually occurred.”
What Troy Nelson left behind has turn into a sensation. After his loss of life, relations posted pictures on social media of his large — and, actually, the key phrase is very large — assortment of “Star Trek” memorabilia, which have now been shared 1000’s of occasions.
The objects took up two dwelling rooms and a bed room, all lined with bookshelves, in keeping with Elena Hamel, one of many brothers’ nieces. The facilities of the rooms had been lined with further bookshelves — all packed to the brim — to create aisles. There had been jewellery cupboards serving as show instances.
The cabinets contained motion figures. Dolls. Models of ships. Posters. Ornaments. Lunchboxes. Legos. Several toy phasers and tricorders. (For non-Trek followers, the phaser is a weapon, and a tricorder is, basically, a flowery smartphone.) Multiple “Star Trek” lamps. (Yes, there are “Star Trek” lamps.) Trading playing cards. Comic books. Trek-themed Geeki Tikis (stylized tiki mugs). Life-size cutouts of well-known characters. A life-size captain’s chair.
While it’s not possible to account for each personal collector on the earth, Troy Nelson’s assortment is sort of assuredly among the many largest — if not the largest.
The final additions to the gathering got here within the remaining weeks of his life: Stuffed rabbits in “Star Trek” uniforms. “I’ve by no means seen a group that measurement,” mentioned Russ Haslage, the president of the International Federation of Trekkers, a “Star Trek”-themed nonprofit that Haslage based with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise.
Haslage’s group opened in 2020 a “Star Trek” museum in Sandusky, Ohio, that has acquired donations of memorabilia from estates. Those collections “pale as compared” to Mr. Nelson’s, he mentioned. (Haslage has reached out to the household to ask about donations from the gathering.)
The older brother’s love of “Star Trek” started with the unique collection, which he’d watch together with his siblings.
“It was our dinner meal,” Ms. Browne mentioned. “When we had dinner, we had been sitting in entrance of ‘Star Trek.’”
Troy Nelson started accumulating within the late-Nineteen Seventies. His first acquisition was a mannequin model of the Starship Enterprise. Then got here Star Trek conventions. Why the franchise was such a draw to him stays a thriller to his household.
“I actually can’t say. I imply, apart from the truth that he was brainwashed with it at meal time,” Browne mentioned, laughing. “That sounds ridiculous. When we grew up, it’s like, ‘Dinner is right now. And should you don’t get right here right now, you don’t get dinner.’ So it would’ve been a consolation for him.”
Troy Nelson would typically monitor websites like eBay for objects he didn’t have. On a number of events, he would specific frustration on shedding out on an merchandise earlier than having the ability to bid on it. Until he came upon the explanation.
“Andrew already received it for him,” Ms. Browne recalled.
Obsessive “Star Trek” fandom has lengthy turn into an indelible half of popular culture, particularly because the franchise — which has spawned a number of tv collection, motion pictures, novels and comics — has been a long-running establishment. There have been documentaries which have studied the topic, corresponding to “Trekkies” in 1997. It’s been lampooned on “The Simpsons,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Family Guy,” and turn into a narrative line in an episode of “The West Wing,” amongst many others. For devoted followers, accruing collectibles isn’t unusual.
“When you accumulate these items, you’re nearer to that style that you just take pleasure in a lot,” Haslage mentioned. “When I first began in 1979, I used to be grabbing all the things I may get my palms on as a result of it was cool, and it was a bit of the entire ‘Star Trek’ mythos. If you have got these items, you’re part of that universe in a roundabout way.”
It seems that accumulating is a pursuit that runs within the household.
Andrew Nelson collected mall swords, Ryobi-branded instruments and statues of warrior girls, like Xena, the warrior princess.
Browne’s home has a wall with 1000’s of smashed pennies and her front room home windows are filled with glass sugar and creamer bowls.
Browne’s father, Bud Peers, collected salt and pepper shakers, weapons and knives. Troy and Andrew’s father, Norman Nelson, collected scrap steel and wooden.
Hamel has 17 Christmas bushes, all totally adorned with separate themes.
Browne’s son, Michael, who’s 36, collects something and all the things associated to black bears.
“When you have got a big assortment like that and it’s displayed like that,” Hamel mentioned, “and it’s one thing that’s essential to you, it’s typically actually calming to be in an area like that. It’s simply all of the issues that you just love. It’s soothing.”
As far as Browne knew, Troy had no historical past of psychological sickness or any earlier suicide makes an attempt. After Andrew died, she acquired a distraught and frantic name from Troy with the information. She advised him that she was on her means.
Ms. Browne mentioned she known as him when she received to the Tacoma Bridge. No reply. And then once more, on the Manette Bridge. No reply. When she reached their dwelling, the again door was open. And then she discovered him. The telephone name was the final time they spoke.
Troy Nelson didn’t go away a notice, however did go away some issues meticulously organized by his laptop, together with a key to the home, burial plans for the 2 brothers, and payments.
“I don’t know actually what I assumed,” Ms. Browne mentioned. “All I may do was simply scream.”
The Nelson household is boxing up Andrew’s “Star Trek” assortment to organize it for public sale. His ashes will likely be positioned in an urn carved within the likeness of the supermodel Bettie Page. (He was a fan). Troy’s ashes will likely be positioned in a “Star Trek” lunchbox.
If you might be having ideas of suicide, name or textual content 988 to achieve the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/sources for an inventory of further sources.
