http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/07/25/obit.pausch.ap/index.html PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47. Pausch died at his home in Virginia, university spokeswoman Anne Watzman said. Pausch and his family moved there last fall to be closer to his wife's relatives. Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet. In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death. "The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique." The book "The Last Lecture," written with Jeffrey Zaslow, leaped to the top of the nonfiction best-seller lists after its publication in April and remains there this week. Pausch said he dictated the book to Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal writer, by cell phone. The book deal was reported to be worth more than $6 million. At Carnegie Mellon, he was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, and was recognized as a pioneer of virtual reality research. On campus, he became known for his flamboyance and showmanship as a teacher and mentor. The speech last fall was part of a series Carnegie Mellon called "The Last Lecture," where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk. The name of the lecture series was changed to "Journeys" before Pausch spoke, something he joked about in his lecture. "I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it," he said. He told the packed auditorium he fulfilled almost all his childhood dreams -- being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co. The one that eluded him? Playing in the National Football League. "If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you," Pausch said. He then joked about his quirky hobby of winning stuffed animals at amusement parks -- another of his childhood dreams -- and how his mother introduced him to people to keep him humble: "This is my son, he's a doctor, but not the kind that helps people." Pausch said he was embarrassed and flattered by the popularity of his message. Millions viewed the complete or abridged version of the lecture, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," online. Pausch lobbied Congress for more federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and appeared on "Oprah" and other TV shows. In what he called "a truly magical experience," he was even invited to appear as an extra in the new "Star Trek" movie. He had one line of dialogue, got to keep his costume and donated his $217.06 paycheck to charity. Pausch blogged regularly about his medical treatment. On Feb. 15, exactly six months after he was told he had three to six months of healthy living left, Pausch posted a photo of himself to show he was "still alive & healthy." "I rode my bike today; the cumulative effects of the chemotherapy are hurting my stamina some, but I bet I can still run a quarter mile faster than most Americans," he wrote. Pausch gave one more lecture after his Carnegie Mellon appearance -- in November at the University of Virginia, where he had taught from 1988 to 1997. Pausch often emphasized the need to have fun. "I mean I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it," he said in his Carnegie Mellon lecture. "You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore. I think I'm clear where I stand on the great Tigger/Eeyore debate. Never lose the childlike wonder. It's just too important. It's what drives us." Born in 1960, Pausch received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Brown University and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon. He co-founded Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center, a master's program for bringing artists and engineers together. The university named a footbridge in his honor. He also created an animation-based teaching program for high school and college students to have fun while learning computer programming. In February, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in California announced the creation of the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund for university students who pursue careers in game design, development and production. He and his wife, Jai, had three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe.
I recently watched his lecture. It was one of those lectures that really meant something to me. I wanted to download it.. but i cant find it anywhere. Anyways.. in the lecture which was done Fall 2007, he said he only had 3 months left to live. I never followed up on when he actually died, so I assumed that he had already passed away. But its good to hear that he did live longer than the expected 3 months. He was truly and extraordinary man in everything that he accomplished. I wish I could have a professor like that in the future.
Here's the speech he gave: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ji5_MqicxSo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ji5_MqicxSo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I thought he was someone who tried to live life to the fullest, always with a smile. I was really bummed to hear that he had died.
For those who wish to view his lecture, it is available at: http://www.cmu.edu/uls/journeys/randy-pausch/index.html
It is well worth watching the video when you have a chance. It really made me think about what I wanted to accomplish in life. Especially being a father now, I want to achieve a number of things if for nothing else as a role-model for my daughter. I've accomplished some, but I want to keep plugging away to finish them all. Most amazingly, Pausch's speech doesn't come across as schlock as so many "realize your dream" speeches do. It comes off as a passionate defense of wanting to help others, being a good person, and that karma will insure you reach your goals in life. It's dotted with humor, humility, and personal anecdotes. I laughed, I cried, and I dreamed what I could achieve. What a sad loss for mankind. I feel really terrible for his family. I imagine losing someone like that would be devastating.
I only recently saw the lecture from the link on this BBS. It was truly inspirational and something that I would one day show my kids. R.I.P.
That's a real shame. I remember watching his lectures about a month or so after my dad passed away. Truly an inspirational guy that took a road much less traveled with a terminal disease. RIP Randy.
As a Carnegie Mellon alum, I've been following his story since I heard about it late last year. This is a sad day for the CMU community, but his inspirational words and story have meant so much to so many people, that his death has almost a surreal quality to it. It's strange, in that we all know him because of his cancer and impending death -- had he not been diagnosed with cancer, he never would have touched the people he did with his lecture. I never had any classes with him, and I must admit, I don't think I had heard of Dr. Pausch until I read about him online. I was familiar with ALICE though, but I didn't know he was the director of that program until just recently actually. Here is the email that the CMU president sent out to all the alumni:
Sad loss but he did leave us some great advice regarding leading a good life as all of our time is limited sooner or later. In my Sophmore year at Cal I was fortunate enough to take the last class taught by Spiro Kostof, who was a well known architectural historian and a great lecturer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiro_Kostof We had known that he was ill but he didn't tell any of the students the extent of his illness or mention why his lecture were being videotaped, which wasn't standard practice then. I later found out he had terminal cancer and he died shortly after the semester was over. Still he was the best lecturer I've ever had and you could feel his incredible enthusiasm about what could be a very dry subject and frequently we would applaud him at the end of his lectures. At the last class we gave him a standing ovation, still not knowing how sick he was.
Honestly, I thought he was already dead when the lecture video was posted. So it was a little strange to see this thread... R.I.P. though
i feel a bit bad saying this, and with all due respect to Randy Pausch's life and death and good intentions... i just watched the speech, and though a bit harrowing because you know you're watching somebody who is aware of their imminent death, i have to say i didn't find it particularly inspiring or emotional at all. he spent the first hour and 14 minutes talking about his career and his mentors along the way, then tries to pack an inspirational, emotional wallop into the final minute. like i said, i feel bad being overly critical of this, but the way people are reacting, i expected to have my heart ripped out and prodded for an hour and 15 minutes. i was kind of shocked by the lack of substance, and with every passing minute, fully expecting it to take a sharp turn into an emotional, inspiring, and cautionary speech. i can't say any of that ever really happened. anyway, god bless and rest in peace, sir. even if your lecture didn't have the same effect on me, it and your life obviously touched thousands upon thousands, and you are leaving behind many lives that you've changed for the better and a legacy to be admired. for great and inspiring speeches (and an hour shorter), i recommend steve jobs 2005 stanford commencement speech(which another poster on this board first showed me).
I never knew this story or about this guy but i just spent the last hour+ watching this video... that was the best hour i've spent doing anything in a long time... simply awesome.
Sad to hear. RIP. Just because you have a different reaction than most doesn't mean something is 'wrong' with the source material. Stop letting other people's response cloud your 'judgement' going in.
