Gary Gygax was a legendary game designer and author who co-created the pioneering tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with Dave Arneson in 1974. He was also involved in creating other games, such as Chainmail, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dangerous Journeys, and Lejendary Adventure. He was widely regarded as the “father of role-playing games” and influenced generations of gamers and fantasy enthusiasts. But how did he die and what was his legacy?
The Cause of Death
According to Wikipedia, Gygax died on March 4, 2008, at the age of 69, at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a bulging of the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. He had also experienced two strokes and a near-heart attack in 2004. His wife, Gail Gygax, said that he died peacefully in his sleep.
The Funeral and the Tribute
Gygax’s funeral was held on March 8, 2008, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake Geneva. He was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva, where his tombstone bears the inscription “Game Master”. According to Rotten Tomatoes, many mourners adjourned to the nearby American Legion hall to play games in his honor. This impromptu game event has become known since as Gary Con 0, and since then gamers celebrate in Lake Geneva each March with a large role-playing game convention in Gygax’s honor.
The Legacy and the Impact
Gygax’s legacy and impact are immense and undeniable. He was a visionary who revolutionized the gaming industry and the fantasy genre. He inspired countless writers, artists, filmmakers, and celebrities who grew up playing D&D or were influenced by his work. Some of them include George R. R. Martin, Stephen King, Joss Whedon, Vin Diesel, Robin Williams, and Matt Groening. He also contributed to the popular culture and the media, as D&D and its elements have appeared in many books, movies, TV shows, comics, and video games. He was also a prolific author who wrote numerous books, manuals, modules, and magazines for D&D and other games. He was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Origins Award Hall of Fame in 1987. He received the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming in 2007 and the ENnie Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008. He was also honored with a star on the Gen Con Walk of Fame in 2008 and a Google Doodle on his 78th birthday in 2016.
Gygax was a legend who left behind a legacy of fantasy and adventure that will live on for generations to come. He was a game master who created a game that changed the world. He was Gary Gygax, the father of role-playing games.
