He failed his saving throw vs Death. You just can’t come back from a natural 0, even if you did invent the game.

Gary Gygax, inventor of the fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons and born-again Christian, has died at his home after a long battle with illness. He had suffered several strokes and a near-fatal heart attack within recent months. The funeral is to be a private, family event. Forum posts by friends and fans are posted at Troll Lord Games, who are adding information as it becomes available. His influence went far beyond the world of RPGs and influenced two generations of fantasy writers and not a few armchair theologians as well.

Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

-JRRT

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::