Noted Computer Science professor Randy Pausch passed away today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Pausch was a founder of the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University and worked on the Alice program, an animated educational system for high school and college students.
It’s not difficult to find educators in CS who are as personable as Dr. Pausch was but it is definitely rare to find one filled with such kindness and an undeniable love for life.
“But we don’t beat the Reaper by living longer. We beat the Reaper by living well,” said Dr. Pausch, who urged the graduates to find and pursue their passion. He put an exclamation point at the end of his remarks by kissing his wife, Jai, and carrying her off stage.
He is survived by his wife and children Dylan, Logan, and Chloe. Donations can be made to the Carnegie Mellon’s Randy Pausch Memorial Fund.
His last lecture:
RIP
RIP
RIP
This guy really was inspirational beyond words. I hope i someday affect one person as much as he affected millions.
Jeff Zazlow wrote a great book about Randy’s life and legacy called The Last Lecture. It’s a great book!
I remember the first time I saw his video and heard him speak and thought to myself what an amazing person. To have so much life inside of him to be able to get down and do push ups and laugh about it right knowing you have only a short time to live… Amazing. I wish I had the change to meet him in real life. RIP Dr. Randy Pausch.
RIP
A truly great inspiration for all .. RIP
This man really was an inspiration…I first heard about him via the Oprah show…we can all learn a lot from him…
i’m so mediocre
God bless him. I expect he caught the express flight to heaven. He changed a lot of lives instantly, but I know he’s hoping those people that were inspired initially by him stay inspired and don’t forget his message a week later. I know I found myself reverting to the same old routine. I think I’ll watch his lecture again. RIP Randy.
RIP
RIP if that’s what ppl do whereever u are, else ROCK ON!
Randy was bigger than life. We can always choose our attitude, even if we can’t choose our circumstances. What a great legacy to leave.
i want to say thanks to him……
I had the pleasure of taking his ‘Building Virtual Worlds’ class as an undergrad at CMU. He had a talent for getting people to do things they might not have thought possible…
I know this is all cheesy and weepy and you’re all having fun at the TC event, but seriously, this guy took a life turn with dignity and grace beyond belief. I am so glad that he stood up and talked about things that we normally don’t want to talk about in public. And, he shared it with a lot of people. He didn’t run from it. This was beautiful, and his vision and soul is a loss. That he shared his thoughts and feelings wtih so many was a real gift, for we tend to shy away from these topics in polite society. And then sometimes we find out that it’s too late…
I remember when my wife first showed me his video on YouTube. What an outstanding gentleman! He will be missed dearly!
The memory lives on…
As we give our best each day we can make a difference and achieve.
Will we take the advice of Dr. Pausch?
What an amazing guy.
What better way to go than knowing that you made every day count and that you touched the lives of so many people around the world! Even though his departure is a huge loss, we are blessed with the inspiration he leaves us with!
Even if I’m from Romania and I’ve never met him, he will always be like a mentor to me.
We will all miss his lectures. RIP
If I hadn’t watched your last lecture in september 07 I had stopped in front of a brick wall.
I’ve never met you but I’ll never forget you!
RIP
Bye Bye Randy. Thanks for all.
We beat the Reaper by getting regular checkups.
Being well educated and affluent and living in a society with easy access to health care – regardless of how busy one is with one’s career – it is important to think of the children being parentless and the wife acting as both a mother and father and breadwinner.
At least get a thorough check up once a year. If people are unwilling to do it on their own, perhaps large companies should compel them to do it as a condition for continued employment.
@PR Prop …it is important to think of the children being parentless and the wife acting as both a mother and father and breadwinner.
wtf
So sad.. But what a amazing and inspirational person..
My thoughts are with his wife and kids, may god rest his soul.
His in a better place now, looking down us.. keep smiling my friend.
Imran
You will continue to Inspire and fire the imagination of generations to come. You lived short, But you lived well. You will be remembered long after you are gone!
Randy was a truly an amazing guy who found peace and perspective in life, which enabled him to remain so grounded when faced with certain death.
It is easy for us all to get wrapped up in things and forget that life is short and work is not what we will miss most when we pass.
Randy will be missed.
Amazing guy. What a life, to enable himself and inspired so many others!
For the past three weeks I was going back to his blog site, waiting hoping for a update. I had a feeling we were close to the infinite silence.
In the dark light of Randy’s passing away.
I am happy for everything he did for me. He inspired me with the Last Lecture and he thought me about Time Management. Got me to download,install and use Alice (I’m 29) and to have fun living life.. Last night I was up all night learning about Cocoa Touch. And, it’s all of Randy’s insperation!
As sad as this news is. I am glad, thankful and once again happy to be inspired by Randy Pausch.
-Rene Hasprunar
I will just see the video. RIP
Randy you are an amazing person and who have inspired many through your acceptance and fighting against cancer for a chance to live another day. Your zeal and vigour of life will always be remembered by many. R.I.P. Randy.
I found his Last Lecture about a year ago, and I was really impressed with his zest for life despite the fact that he knew he was going to die. He set a standard for how all parents should act in his situation. Despite the job that he loved, he knew what was most important (his family). He changed so many lives in the course of his shortened one. I hope that many people will take the little morsels that they’ve learned from him and pass them onto the others that they come in contact with. I liken him to my eleven year old nephew who also succumbed tragically to the bitter disease of Cancer (Leukemia) 7 months ago as of the 31st. He always lived every day like it was his last. He affected more people than most that live to 100. I think that God has his chosen angels. We might not know the entire picture as to why we’re only allowed to be in our midst for a short time, but it’ll be astoundingly clear once we pass on to the other side. Rest in peace Randy and all of those who have died or will die of painful diseases before they enter heaven.
Rest in peace Randy, your lectures have had a huge impact on my life, outlook, time management, and lay so many seeds of inspiration within two or three of the best hours of learning in a lifetime. I just watched the whole video again, and still pick up something new. Genius, genuine, phenomenal professor.
The best seem to go so young, well said Ann Marie about angels. May Randy and your nephew rest happy and peaceful, in a better place than this.
In his lecture Randy mentioned a sick joke about whether he would go to Heaven or Hell (again he had such a great sense of humour to bring this up). Nobody would disagree that the answer is obvious.
What an amazing human being. An example for us all. If we all adopted his mentality, the world would be an infinitely happier (as well as more peaceful & productive) place. May you now impact millions of people for years to come, and in your absence shine brighter than any of your childhood dreams dared to tread. RIP Randy.
Randy Pausch on Time Management:
http://video.go...740380335567758
Thank you Randy. RIP.
Great person, great life!
Peace for his Soul..
It may not be inappropriate to note something here [following the spirit of Randy's push up in the "last Lecture"]
” In some areas of the world, pancreatic cancer is quite infrequent; for example, the incidence in India is less than 2 cases per 100,000 persons per year. “–emedicine
How India has such a low rate? Better fresh food [no supermarket crap], fresh fish, less atomic reactors or testing [compared to over 1000 tests here in US], genetic?? I wonder..
ya………Dr..nth left to say.RIP……..
Mrs.u got the perfect husband…….
He inspired me a lot – I have a total different look at life now than before I saw his last lecture. He was truly an amazing person. As a tribute to Randy I will keep persuing my dreams and living life to the max making every day count!
What an inspirating last leture!
And what a great life he had.
Thanks Randy
His last lecture was inspirational. I saw it when it was first featured by WSJ. My best wishes to his family.
God Bless Randy’s family and keep them in His comfort.
He had inspired me a lot …great guy! he’ll be missed….
God be with you, Randy. You have inspired millions, yes. You have strengthened me specifically in my resolve to complete my Ph.D. Thank you for your strength, for your love of love, and your amazing and infinite grace. My family and I will never forget you and will invoke you in our classes when both students (and teachers) need inspiration.
I had a VR/3D background but without the bells and whistles of an MS or PhD. Yet, I helped create 3D worlds before being laid off from my job. It was neat to actually comprehend the terminology and processes in which you evolved your art (and science). That was special work and people like you who benefited and helped pioneer are truly exceptional.
It was sad to hear of your passing.
Take care up there….
How sad. Thank’s for the information.
God bless his family……………… Love u Randy and miss u
wow 47 yo…that’s a shame!
may God bless his soul.