This is a loss in the truest sense...
I was fortunate enough to meet him many years ago when the first Jurassic Park movie was out, and he did a lecture and book signing at the field museum here in Chicago.
Welcome to The Field Museum
(link for the curious)
I remember he did a lecture on the genetic technology he 'created' in the novel compared with active research and accomplishments actually taking place at the time. During the QA part of the lecture, someone asked why alligator DNA was used in the book and frog DNA was used in the movie to create the dinosaurs. Is answer, "because they are both fiction. next question please." lol...it was great.
I asked him during the signing if he was sick of dinosaurs yet, he replied "Oh you have no idea"...lol. Too funny...
I'll cherish the memory and my signed jurassic park hardcover....