I don't put much stock in people, or celebrities, but rather ideas.
However, if I would model a persona on a public figure to any degree, I think Leonard Nimoy a fair candidate.
By that, I mean that I respected Leonard Nimoy greatly, and I respect very few public figures at all.
He demonstrated diplomacy, ingenuity and (often subtle) compassion for what was otherwise the fairly cynical business of genre media.
It's his example that suggested that to me personally, that enjoying genre media like sci-fi is more than just mindless indulgence of "nerdy crap". He showed that making it requires interest and a boldness against reprisal, while making it GOOD requires a greater degree of thought and creativity.
So for that, I will indulge and toast his memory; Live long, and prosper.
Aye, Mr. Spock. I will.