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"Last Lecture" CMU Professor Randy Pausch Dies

Posted by kdawson on from the imagineering-on-the-other-side dept.

Many readers are sending in word that Randy Pausch has died at 47. The charismatic young college professor celebrated life despite a death sentence from pancreatic cancer in a remarkable speech widely known as the "Last Lecture." The video went viral and has been downloaded by over 10 million people.

12 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Prosper. by PunditGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    He apparently has a speaking role in the new Star Trek film. I wouldn't be surprised to see a dedication now as well.

    Everyone hug your kids or your parents or whomever is next to you (if that's allowed by your HR policy). You never know when your time is up.

    1. Re:Prosper. by Xenophon+Fenderson, · · Score: 5, Interesting

      However, many people seem not to like hugging. I think that people "simply" have a subconscious fear of fully giving and fully accepting love.

      On the contrary, I think that some people naturally avoid insincere affection as a defensive mechanism, to avoid being manipulated or otherwise taken advantage of. Hugs invoke a degree of physical intimacy that isn't always appropriate (especially in professional, as opposed to recreational or religious, contexts).

      --
      I'm proud of my Northern Tibetian Heritage
  2. May his children come to fully understand by n0dna · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How much he loved them and what a truly remarkable and inspirational person he was.

    Requiem in Pacet.

  3. If only... by tjstork · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If only our politicians were a 1/10th of the man that he was.

    --
    This is my sig.
  4. Re:Tearful by peterprior · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Quote: "I mean, the metaphor I've used is ... somebody's going to push my family off a cliff pretty soon, and I won't be there to catch them. And that breaks my heart. But I have some time to sew some nets to cushion the fall. So, I can curl up in a ball and cry, or I can get to work on the nets."

    Wow.

  5. Re:Godspeed by dreamchaser · · Score: 4, Interesting

    He was a remarkable man. I live just north of Pittsburgh and had the honor of meeting him briefly early last year. He will be remembered well by all, not just those around the CMU area.

  6. My dad too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My father is also a professor (of civil engineering) and is dying of the same. He linked me this video - I'm afraid to watch it, afraid I'll break down.

    I thank him anyway, to know that I am not alone.

  7. an amazing article from the Brown Alumni Magazine by lyapunov · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I actually read the article first and then googled more references.
    This article is amazing.

    My wife's father died from metastatic colin cancer that went to his lungs. She still has bouts of depression, and I have often wondered what I should be doing to help her and my kids should I check out early. This is the best that I have ever come across.

    --

    Either give it away or get top dollar, but never sell yourself cheap.
  8. Re:RIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Two years ago, I'd had all the symptoms of pancreatic cancer and my doctor had ordered up an MRI to check it out. For 4 days, between getting told to get the test and when the results came in, I just wandered around like I'd been drugged. Thankfully, the result was negative, but to this day, I can't imagine how that guy managed to refocus his mind and life. Pancreatic cancer usually means "6 months" (or less) and for a lot of that the living is a technicality.

    You done good, guy.

  9. NY Times on how people die by peter303 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A couple weeks ago an article in the "Aging" series tabulated:
    Cancer 20%
    Heart Disease 25%
    Old Age decline - demntia, pneumonia, etc. 40%
    Other - accidents, etc. 15%

  10. Fortunate to have him as a professor by whipping_post · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I had Prof. Pausch as a teacher, in '97 or '98, at the University of Virginia in a "Usability Engineering" class. It was hands down the best class I took at The University, and he was an absolutely amazing teacher. His "last lecture" made him famous, but his work in the classroom is what made him great.

  11. Re:Still not sure... by DeskLazer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't know if you've ever talked to the guy, but he's probably one of the most positive people I've ever met. he goes far beyond what his lecture and book have. he's the guy who would find the good in everything, as cliched as that sounds. I kept up on his personal blog, which talked about his health as he dealt with the cancer. this guy was RUNNING and doing exercise and being outside and feeling alive while having cancer. he said it best, "I may have a lot of my stamina [from chemo], but I can probably run a quarter mile faster than most Americans." and what he did for pancreatic cancer research is huge. RIP Randy, we'll miss you.