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"Last Lecture" CMU Professor Randy Pausch Dies
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.
Requiem in Pacet
http://clightnirish.wordpress.com/
For those of you who haven't seen the video, take some time to watch it. Really, it's worth it.
"No one likes working in a hamster wheel, and your shop smells of cedar shavings from here." - TaleSpinner
Discovered his lecture on the internet late last year just as I was moving to Pittsburgh. It's quite an interesting and inspiring story. He was a remarkable individual. Rest in Peace, friend.
Is it possible to organize a minute of silence on the Slashdot? Oh well, I know the answer.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. - Yogi Berra
That was an amazing speech, Professor Pausch. Your family will be in my prayers. You had a great way of looking at life, and I sincerely believe that your children will benefit very much from that.
I know many people who already have...
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.
if it was my last days on earth, I'd spend it giving a lecture.
I'm not really sure I'd even spend it with clothes on...
Follow the link for the transcription of Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.
How much he loved them and what a truly remarkable and inspirational person he was.
Requiem in Pacet.
One of a kind..
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4614281
Some days it's just not worth
chewing through my restraints.
He was many things to many people, and my condolences to all who knew him personally.
Off all the viral videos I've seen over the years, I think his "Last Lecture" was the most moving and worthwhile I have ever seen.
It's pretty hard to talk about something as scary as terminal cancer, yet while he kept reminding the listeners of his condition, his energy and charisma kept making you forget that the man was sick.
It's too bad the article that Yahoo! had failed to mention that he got to spend a day with the Pittsburgh Steelers and their wide receiver, Hines Ward. While he didn't actually play in the NFL, I imagine he came as close as he was going to get. I think he managed to nail all of his "bucket list".
People with such great vision are hard to come by. Having that vision while still having such a willingness to share it with others, with great entusiasm, is even more rare.
May his family keep their memories of him always in their minds. R.I.P.
If only our politicians were a 1/10th of the man that he was.
This is my sig.
A big remember for him! ... and a strip
Watching the Last Lecture really does put things into perspective. Rest in Peace Dr. Pausch. The Pausch family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
While he recently became a household name with The Last Lecture, he was a longtime proponent of gaming as a vehicle for computer science education. His work at CMU, and partnerships with Disney and Electronic Arts, helped legitimize gaming and play in the university, and brought the university into the video game industry. Even before The Last Lecture anyone who had the chance to study with him or just chat with him for a few minutes knew they were talking with a man with a passion for play, technology and life, and a lifelong sense of wonder we can all emulate. Three cheers for Randy Pausch!
RIP. A widely regarded and inspiring lesson in accepting your cards as they are dealt, concentrating on the important stuff and making the most of your time. If you have not yet watched the lecture then make time to do so.
I'm all tears as I write this. I've been following Prof Pausch on web since the time that video was posted. If you see his video, blog and other web commentary, you would realize how he was the embodiment of positive energy.
Hell, I even checked on him last week - and his blog posted that he was off chemo. I was happy to know that he was doing well. :(
Prof Pausch, we will miss you.
... and thanks for some inspiration.
Fleur de Sel
http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/beyond/2008/summer/an-enduring-legacy.shtml
You have to be brave to be able to face what he did the way he did it. I think I would rather be run over by a train without a moment's notice.
[ home ]
Rest in peace. Both the world and academia need more men like you. Thank you for the inspiration you've given me without ever even meeting me. You will be missed.
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.
A: You kill him.
...then I think his video must have metastatized, instead of going viral.
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.
The book is not worth the price though. Go sit in your local Borders and read it, or borrow it from the library.
It duplicates most of the video, with little else besides some things that Mr. Pausch wanted to include for his family.
Besides, the video has the laugh track...
Alice is a wonderfully impressive tool. Once I get him a computer that can run it, I'm going to teach it to my brother (because having him do it on my machine is a little difficult when I'm at school). It seems like a brilliant introduction to computer programming and the thinking behind software design.
"You can either have software quality or you can have pointer arithmetic, but you cannot have both at the same time."
Talk about leaving a meaningful legacy... He sure made the most of his last months.
That's not Picasso, that's Kandinsky!
Got sent his video and was entranced. It summed up an awful lot of what I felt was wrong with my life. I'd raise a glass to him but have given up drinking based on that lecture.
As so many /. posters are wont to do, it's nice to see that the normal sarcasm and wit aren't happening here.
He was a remarkable man, and the memory of him should be honored.
What a strange belief. Politics has been wrong and screwed up all the time, but it's just because it wasn't the right guy... And cue the supporters of a candidate : THIS guy, now he's for real, etc. Get a perspective, it's a systemic problem.
\u262D = \u5350
I might sadly add that, as a CMU student, this our third professor who we have lost in the past year. The other two professors, both in the biology department of CMU, were Dr. William Brown (http://www.cmu.edu/bio/news/2007/brown_tribute.html) and Dr. Elizabeth Jones (http://www.cmu.edu/bio/faculty/jones.shtml). All will be sorely missed, with Dr. Pausch being the most recent and visible.
"Someday I would like to quote myself."
Never thought I'd be a grammar Nazi in Latin. Professor Paush's lecture was truly heartwarming and inspiring. My thoughts are with his family and friends, and I hope they'll keep his memory alive for his young children. It's sad to think that they'll never truly know him.
Fruits of the man's labor here (Alice)
http://www.alice.org/
During the first part of the summer one of the assignments in my Persuasion course was to watch his video. If there was one thing I took from that course more than any other it was the message he gave. The course was my last before finishing my BA in Communication, and while I had been accepted into graduate school I was uncertain if I wanted to go. His lecture truly helped me decide to move on and get my MA. And, while I am still a bit nervous about grad-school and even more so having to teach, his words are an inspiration to not let anything get in my way of living my life.
He was a great speaker, and more so a great motivator. If anything his death is a blessing and a curse. I feel sorry for his family's loss, but hope they find solace that he will live on for decades to come because of his words.
Thank you for your message. I'll never forget.
Even knowing it was coming, and coming sooner rather than later, it is still a tremendous shock to know that we have lost such an inspirational man.
How lucky we are to have his message.
For his wife Jai and his beautiful children, I hope that it is eventually some comfort to know that humanity recognizes what a unique gift we were privileged to share with you.
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%
Thank you, Tigger, for the words of encouragement and giving a 40 yr old man the courage to go back to college. I won't let the walls keep me out.
Oh, for the days when sig's didn't have to be cute...hey, wait a sec.
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.
Very good video. Pretty funny at times too. Definately worth your while
Randy was partially responsible for the creation of an Entertainment Technology program at Sierra Nevada College. His program, Alice, was used as the tool that introduced many of us to creating Virtual Worlds.
I was in the first class they did for this and it was absolutely incredible. CMU really helped SNC get its program off the ground.
After watching his lecture on TED, I began implementing his teaching strategies in my training classes at my workplace...turns out the head fake concept works very well ;)
Trying to install linux on my microwave, but keep getting a kernel panic...
Of all the souls I've encountered in my travels, his was the most ... human.
We all kind of know something vaguely in he back of minds. But what if you knew exactly? Would people behave differently? Randy used his final time wisely.
As I recall, we tried to land him at Va. Tech back in the late 80's. I remember that he made a big impression, even at the very beginning of his career. I was terribly disappointed that he went to The Other School instead.
He accomplished more in each year of his life than most of us will accomplish in a lifetime, and with The Last Lecture, he truly surpassed himself. Thanks, Randy, and Godspeed.
Dr. Randy Pausch was part of the team that created Alice, a tool to teach programming masquerading as a game. Salute Dr. Pausch's memory by downloading Alice and playing with it. And if you can, help the effort to finish Alice v. 3!
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
I am sure that he'd appreciate a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Mourns the Loss of Friend and Supporter, Dr. Randy Pausch
Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that the staff and I mourn the passing of Dr. Randy Pausch.
Dr. Pausch, the Carnegie-Mellon professor who delivered the now famous The Last Lecture speech about the importance of achieving your childhood dreams, became a friend and supporter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. He was also a loving husband, a devoted father, and a mentor who not only influenced and inspired his students and colleagues, but went on to inspire thousands, if not millions of people to follow their hearts and their dreams. We will be forever grateful for his support and commitment.
It is critically important to keep Dr. Pausch's message, "to make every day matter in the fight against pancreatic cancer," moving forward. He knew the importance and urgency of getting the message out to help drive the research funding needed to fight this disease. His philosophy of "every day matters" was a testament to his determination and strength despite the odds.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network honors Dr. Randy Pausch for his humanity and bravery during his fight against this terrible disease. His commitment to our organization will never be forgotten. We will miss him.
Sincerely,
Julie Fleshman
I will miss this man, even though I have never met him in person (I so wish I did), his lecture, like himself, is unforgettable. It was the most important lecture I have ever had the honour of participating - even though from a distance.
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
On those lines, has anyone tried the alice software? www.alice.org
Randy was very proud of this achievement, so giving it some attention/discussion seems appropriate here.
The software is designed to be a teaching tool. A.k.a a "serious game" for all of you game programmers out there.
Randy Pausch was instrumental in the early stages of Alice. The project has taken on a life of its own, and is now "a multi-university initiative". The Alice Team is a collaboration of faculty, staff, and students. The software is presented as a free gift from Carnegie Mellon University.
You can watch it on YouTube, but unfortunately only broken up in small segments. I think it's much better to watch the whole lecture at once. I have found a Torrent for the video, I'm downloading (and seeding it) now.
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
Sadly, they are.
Death is a fundamental part of life. Without death, no one would respect or value the life he has. Everyone will react to death differently. Some will be sad; others will celebrate the positive contributions.
As for the "time to show your weakness," I completely disagree. Dr. Pausch has a wife and three children. Did his terminal cancer suddenly absolve him of his responsibilities to them? This isn't about him satisfying some egotistical urge, it's about him providing future support for his family. His stories are entertaining, yes, but the entertainment aspect is the "head fake" to get his audience to listen to and comprehend the deeper philosophical message. He could have just blurted out "work hard, don't give up," but it wouldn't have had the same impact.
He has set the bar pretty high. I should hope to be as much a man as he.
I saw this article and the name vaguely rang a bell. Turns out, I was at UVa the same time he was there. I was also interested in VR, and did some extracurricular work with it that didn't go anywhere; but I learned a lot of valuable skills doing that. That connection, although tenuous, gives the lecture even more impact for me. It's sobering to think that I might have passed him in the halls and not even known. RIP, Mr. Pausch. And for the rest of us, carpe diem.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
Have you figured out the second head fake? The talk's not for you, it's for my kids. Thank you all, good night.
After reading the transcript and all the things that he has done, I think this is most impressive of them all.
RIP
Couldn't get in, but at least this lecture talks about the brick walls. This lecture is pretty inspiring. It woulda been nice to have known the guy.
God spoke to me.
Death does not have to be a time to be sad. He was given a great gift. He was given time. The reaper's hand was stayed long enough for him to do great things. He was given time to be with his family and to ensure they will know their father even though they may not remember him. He was given time to create something that has touched more people than he could have ever known. As someone who has survived cancer I choose to celebrate his life rather than to mourn his death. When I get home tonight I will raise a glass to Randy Pausch and bid him farewell into the great unknown.
... became known on the Internet a few days after my father died from lung cancer within 4½ months of diagnosis. Watching Pausch's lecture in my state of bereavement was one of the most touching experiences of my life, as it dealt with the same topics I had to deal with at the time, and it did so in a rather different way than we in our family were able to do. As with many things precious to my heart, I find not many people around me I can or even want to try to share them with, but I am happy to read that many people around here feel as strongly about his fate, his lecture and his family as I do.
Tearful,
I feel like I'm the only one who wasn't super impressed by the lecture. I found it cheesy at times. I'd like to hear from people who did like it exactly why you like it and what was so earth-shattering about what he had to say. Sure, he was a nice guy. But of what he said, was it really that good?
America is a bit bigger then 150k men.
Maybe I missed something, but are you saying there are only 150,000 men in the United States? If you are, I think you're off by a couple orders of magnitude, it should about .022%.
CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
"Lux Aeterna" (find it and listen to it, and you'll understand.)
HAND.
What is eunt???
HAND.
We stand together,
The mountain and I
Until only the mountain remains
Watching
As Randy moved across the world
With the mountain on his back.
Tonight Randy sleeps
But the mountain will still weep.
inspiring person, engineer by heart - we do not get much better in the field.
Servant of karma
I wish my schools had figures like this guy...
I went to school in eastern Europe, where we got a STRONG education=good education with a hard exam system.
Still sometimes it is not quantity of knowledge but positive spirit what people should be getting.
I read some negative comments, and I feel sorry for the people posting them.,,,,
Well, just my opinion.... and while I read a lot of interesting TECH stuff on /. (and thank for it), this is really a piece (the video) I am thankful for.
Cheers
...I can learn to live like you did, Randy. Thank you, you will be missed, remembered, honored and followed.
This sig seemed like a good idea at the time....
for the first minutes I also had some uncomfortable feelings. But you can concede that it was a spectacular effort to hold his attitude in that situtation. never seen something like this.
moreover it grows. You are totally wrong about his trying to convince himself he had done enough. When he talks about alice, you feel he is emotional not seeing the project complete and hoping his legacy will be good.
and at the end it is actually clear that the whole point is he knows he has not been given enough time to do "enough"
but he also knows that these were his cards and anyhow all individuals have to play theirs. He is only hoping to inspire and mentor
go watch the video.
Didn't even realize he was living in my town.
Rest in peace.
Late last year I was involved in a motorcycle accident and came very close to death. Over the past six months while recovering I've drawn inspiration from a few different sources however the two primary ones have been Man vs Wild (Bear Grylls broke his back at 21 and joined the SAS two years later) and Randy's book. The way Randy approached his diagnosis and how he has tried to live his life since have been great and continued sources of succour and motivation for me as I continue on the path back to 'normal' life.
I really hoped Randy would beat this thing. Given his outlook I thought he had a good chance.
Rest in peace Randy. May your family and friends think of you fondly and often.
Janie took my gun...
Just two days ago I've uploaded the full transcript of The Last Lecture to Serbian (Russian translation is on the way). The goal is to share The Last Lecture to other parts of the world, bring it closer to the people by translating it and promoting it locally. Please join us with this goal! http://www.forbetterweb.com/ser-randy-pausch.php
Never had the privilege of meeting you, but your last lecture really inspired me. Not cos you were going to die, but for everything you said about how to live.
perl -e 'fork||print for split//,"hahahaha"'
Watched the video...all the way through. The first half goes through the list of stuff he wanted to do before he died...and ticked off what he had managed to do. The last 10 minutes have the summarized advice for life...be earnest...tell the truth...apologize when you screw up, etc. Most of the rest is anecdotal stories underlining his points. It's a good lecture, entertaining, humorous, light-hearted, and well-illustrated. The amazing thing is all of the people who say watching it has changed their life. Perhaps it gives them a sense of optimism and hope that was missing from their life before? Or maybe it is an example for them of someone who faces his impending death with courage and dignity? Yes, it is those things but those are out there, everyday, everywhere, all of the time.
...I mean the man helped a lot of people take in a review of what they valued...and he did it in one of the most "ALIVE" ways I think I have ever seen. Its hard to convey to people how valuable time and things like dreams are. Unless you have lived with the concern of death hovering near you its hard to really get a view of how you have lived...the costs of some of our choices have been. Mr. Pausch gave that glimpse to millions of people. I hope he is never forgotten and that his teachings are passed on for generations to come.
Joe Investor
I got my family to watch the ABC special on TV tonight. What an amazing and inspirational story!
My wife and I agree that they should make a Hollywood rendition of his life story and that Jim Carrey (from his more dramatic roles like The Truman Show) should play the part of Prof Pausch. There's an amazing resemblance in both their appearance and facial expressions as well as their desire to have fun.
Prof. Pausch, your memory will live on after you. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Excellent "head fakes".