Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

A Dying Professor Gives the Lecture of His Life

By jobythebay, published Sep 23, 2007
Published Content: 186  Total Views: 142,110  Favorited By: 39 CPs
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I was watching the news on television last night and heard the newscaster saying that we would be watching a professor's last lecture.

On Tuesday, September 18, 2007 a computer science professor named Randy Pausch, Ph.D, gave a lecture. Dr. Pausch is regarded as an expert teacher of video gamesand virtual reality technology. He helped develop the software used at Carnegie Mellon, a well-know Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania University, called Alice. It allows people to create 3-D animations. This is being used by students around the world. The lecture was titled, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." http://cmu.edu/uls/journeys/

Dr. Pausch's lecture was not the type that is normally given at Carnegie Mellon. Oftentimes at Carnegie Melon Professors are asked to give lectures about what matters to them and to give what is a fake final talk. Most of us ask ourselves what we would want our children to know if we were dying and may leave them a tape. Most of us ask ourselves what difference we made if not to the world at large then to our smaller world of family and friends. Most of us wonder what we would do if we knew we only had a few months to live. Dr. Pausch shared that unlike most of us he has achieved most of his dreams which include being in zero gravity, making video games, playing in the National Football League, and authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia. www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/285914.html

In the case of Professor Pausch this was not an academic exercise. This is his life. A father of three and only 46-years old he was given a death sentence of a few months. He has pancreatic cancer. The news story I watched said that Professor Pausch wanted to do this of course for his students and himself but most importantly for his three young children.

He ended the lecture by giving his wife a cake for her birthday and telling the audience that his children would watch the video when they are older. Tears were wiped and another standing ovation ended Randy Pausch's last lecture.

The Carnegie Mellon video page says a DVD of his lecture will be available.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
Date: September 18, 2007
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA  USA
Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Dr. Randy Pausch

Credit: abc news

Copyright: abc news

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Ummm...don't think so!

Posted on 07/26/2008 at 1:07:40 PM

 
Was he an alcoholic?

Posted on 07/25/2008 at 6:07:16 PM

 
I just heard Diane Sawyer on GMA deliver the news of Randy's death this morning. May God guide you home Randy, give you peace and protect your family. Thanks so much for your wonderful example in life of how to truely live it to the fullest. We won't forget you.

Posted on 07/25/2008 at 6:07:54 AM

 
God bless you and your family Randy. You are all in my prayers and I hope you have the light there to guide you and to give you and your family strength through these tough times. Let the lord be with you and you will have nothing to fear. Put your faith in him and find comfort in knowing that, you can trust that he will take care of everything when the time comes to go home. God bless you!

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 2:07:57 AM

 
Jesus, the Lord, is the only Way, Truth, and Life. Have faith in Him and you will get eternal life. God bless you and your beautiful children and wife. We will continue praying for you.

Posted on 06/11/2008 at 2:06:17 PM

 
Dear Dr. Pausch, I just finished watching you on a rerun of Oprah. Your message was wonderful for me to hear but, what another beautiful gift that you can leave behind for your wife and kids. But you know that your jouney will just be beginning when you leave this earth! I hope that can be a comfort for your family. God bless your family that you leave behind and God Bless you for being a vessel for the Lord to show people how we should all look at life!

Posted on 06/10/2008 at 3:06:06 PM

 
Randy, I have a very painful pancreatitis problem, although nothing compared to your fight against pancreatic cancer. I have fought breast cancer, though. Your possitivity and hopeful outlook, when I know that you have to be in a tremendous amount of pain, helps me to continue to keep going. You have been a true inspiration, have helped me to learn to laugh every day, take time to enjoy the small things, and love as many people as I can. I also am a teacher, and I love the way you allow your students to learn to be creative and explore endless possibilities. Hang in there, know that many, many people are praying for you and rooting you on. You have been my inspiratiion to continue to believe that no obstacle is too difficult. You truly have touched many hearts and many lives, and will continue to do so. My first graders are painting their bedroom walls. (smiles.)

Posted on 06/02/2008 at 2:06:27 AM

 
Some poeple live a along life and never learn why we are here. You in the other hand are doing what God intened for us to live life everday to the fullest. Share your great knowlege with others. And show the world how you love your wife and kids. And along your jouney here are showing others how to live with your head held high and your truley thankful for what the lord has given to you while your here. My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend my god bless you and your family.

Posted on 05/31/2008 at 10:05:13 PM

 
shalom Randy>

Posted on 05/29/2008 at 8:05:12 PM

 
has he passed away yet?

Posted on 05/19/2008 at 4:05:15 PM

 
randy u giv the truth of lif towards the people u r the parson who never dyes u always aliv in our hearts .persons r aliv but they can't be abl to understand himself ,lif nd circumstances aruond them .i thing they r lik a dead body even if they r aliv...but u giv the new think to the youths...thanks alot.

Posted on 05/19/2008 at 2:05:05 AM

 
I just watched Oprah and saw Randy on it and was so upset that I had not heard about his story and I live in Virginia - Midlothian to be exact. What a terrific person he is - there are no words that adequately describe this man and this person. I am going to read his book as soon as I can get it. What a testament to his courage, love of life and family and hope for the future. I feel better just because I watched that show.

Posted on 05/07/2008 at 5:05:36 PM

 
Dear Randy, I wish I could find a way to send you a personal email, but contact information is no longer available on the net. You said that the actionable items sent your way by people whose parents died when they were young are what are helpful to you now. I am telling you about the lasting effects of losing a parent, one generation later. My mother's mother died when she was 11. It came very suddenly. She simply passed away in her sleep, no doubt of some unidentified heart condition, leaving behind an alcoholic husband and 7 very young children. My mother at age 11, was sent to live with relatives. And she really never recovered from that, from feeling a burden on relatives who were not her immediate family, and from feeling insecure and helpless and alone. My mother is an old woman now, but she still relives the stress of losing the one person, she believed, who loved her unconiditionally. I wanted to assure you that your children will be fine. They will have you

Posted on 04/23/2008 at 3:04:13 PM

 
An incredibly sad circumstance.

Posted on 04/13/2008 at 1:04:49 AM

 
Randy- Think of a white light shining down on you and healing you from top to bottom. Many people are thinking of you and your family. You and your wife have the best attitude.

Posted on 04/11/2008 at 7:04:53 PM

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