In Memoriam: Barbara Reader
Barbara 'Barb' Reader was born on April 5, 1955 in Brooklyn. Daughter of Malcolm and Claire (Weisberg) Reader. She graduated Yale University, 1977 and passed her Bar Association exams in 1983. [Source]
She created "Star Trek Reviewed" on Blogger on June 27, 2009 as a way of recording and sharing her growing collection of links and information about Star Trek fan films. The 250 blogs she created on the first day became defacto web pages for individual productions and subjects.
In early 2016, upon confirmation that she had stage 4 cancer she invited a group of fellow fans to become the founding members of a 'board of directors' to continue the work of Star Trek Reviewed on the event of her demise. A small core of those friends are still working on it and shall continue to do so, not just to respect her legacy but because we firmly believe that it performs a vital role in supporting Star Trek fan productions.
On March 28, 2021, Barbara lost her battle against cancer after a long and bitter fight which she faced with grace and composure. Her passing has stimulated articles, tributes, thoughts and memories shared by members of the Star Trek community, listed below in alphabetical order and linked to the source.
Jonathan Lane has written an excellent article on Fan Film Factor, about Barb and, with his permission, we have appended the tributes there onto this page.
If you would like to add a tribute or edit something on this page, please contact us by either a comment or Personal Message on our Facebook Group or by email at startrekreviewed@gmail.com
Kirok of L'Stok
The following films have kindly been dedicated by their producers to Barb...
Freak on a Leash: A Star Trek Fan Film
Interlude: A Star Trek Fan Production (Axanar Continuity)
The Passenger With Baggage
Shatter Point Part 2
Barbara Reader was one of the great champions of the fan film community. She was thoughtful, smart, and extremely well organized. The final reel of her life may have run through to the end, but her memory will live on forever. FFF
Our deepest condolences on the loss of a great friend of fan films. She was a great promoter of fan films no matter how small offering encouragement. She will be greatly missed. Barbara Reader was such a great advocate of fan films. She helped to nurture and promote Nature’s Hunger as well as offering helpful tips. Her scholastic research and awesome support will be greatly missed. FFF
Sorry to learn this news. She reached out to me when I was working on my first fan film. I appreciated the fact that she took interest in the project and was probably the first to publicize it. She will be missed. FFF
Barbra was a friend to all fan films. She made her website a personal mission and legacy. From the earliest days of Temporal Anomaly, she supported us. She checked in every year on the progress…wanting to keep her website as up to date as possible and because she generally wanted to see the film. It was always nice to see that at least someone remembered my film when it was still a production work-in-progress! I know hers is a name that almost every fan film maker knows, and that is a testament to how much she cared. She will be missed…but she leaves a legacy of support for so many of us. FFF
She was such a constant positive voice in the community and just a genuinely lovely person who had a positive impact on us all. She will be dearly missed. I first encountered Barb when she messaged me about Intrepid, and I was honoured to learn we were her gateway into Star Trek fan films. Many of you may not have known Barb, but the fan film community owes her its gratitude for her efforts and her kindness over the years. She was one of us and she will be sorely missed. FFF
I am heartbroken that Barbara Reader, the first one to discover my films, has sadly passed away after her fight with cancer. She was a fierce supporter and fan of my work, and from that -- had become good friends, Over the years, we enjoyed jokes, observations, and our mutual love of Star Trek. It's hard to put into words the impact a person has on your life, and all I can say is a member of my film family is now gone. I will remember and honor her... Second star to the right, my dear Barbara! Rest easy, you've earned it. Thank you for everything. See also Fan Film Factor
Saddened by the passing of Star Trek fan film lover Barbara Reader. I was blessed to have known her for nearly a decade, and this is a loss to all of fandom. Her website, Star Trek Reviewed, is the most complete guide to Star Trek fan films, and will continue to be available and expanded. Warp Speed, Barbara. See also Fan Film Factor
It's so sad to hear that. I never met her...only knew her for maybe 6 years, but it was a wonderful time to work together with her for STR and talk about different things too.
She really will be missed so much...and we have to stand so close together now and keep her work and dream alive...fanfilm producers, actors, writers and fans...and STR members to be there for them all.
Here's Barbara's interview with me. It was her first interview ever. Thank you, Barbara for everything you did for fan films and thank you for taking the time to talk to me about it. The Final Frontier Podcast
[Thank you, Adam. This is the first time I have heard her voice! -K]
Outpost - A Star Trek Fan Production
It is with sadness that we share this news. Barb was a strong supporter of all of the Trek fan productions. Her presence will be missed. RIP, Barb....
RIP Barbara. See also Fan Film Factor
The cast and crew of Outpost - A Star Trek Fan Production sends their most heartfelt condolences. She will be greatly missed. 🙁
Aw, so sad to hear this, although not completely unexpected. Barbara was very kind to me when I launched my silly Ronnie Redshirt web series a few years ago. A very cool lady, may she rest in peace.
Starship Excelsior: A Star Trek Fan Production
Barb Reader was a friend of the show -- indeed of EVERY Star Trek fan project, no matter how big, no matter how small -- going all the way back to the start.
StarTrekReviewed.com is by far the most comprehensive catalog of Star Trek fan work ever compiled, and it was all her doing.
We greatly mourn her loss.
I did a quick and "dirty" post on Barbara's passing for the website I contribute to. Here it is. Geekykool See also Fan Film Factor
My condolences. 😪
I was dreading that this day would be upon us. I knew Barbara was ill because she let it slip in one of her posts. She took on her cancer so bravely. Her posts were always so positive and not a hint she was seriously ill. I will miss seeing her comments about Star Trek fan films and current political events. FFF
