Randy Pausch Dead at 47 of Complications from Pancreatic Cancer

Renowned for Deliverence of "Final Lecture"

Randy Pausch has died July 25, as reported by The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch. Pausch died at age 47 from complications of pancreatic cancer. From an innovation standpoint he was well known as a brilliant scientist and researcher at Carnegie Mellon that launched new initiatives, but that isn't what made him so well-known. What made Professor Randy Pausch special was his "Final Lecture" which he delivered on September 18, 2007. You may view this lecture by following the first referenced link at the end of this article.

It would be easy to do an article on Randy Pausch with respect to his work. As the Journal's article points out, he is celebrated for his amazing work on the Entertainment Technology Center and the interactive software program "Alice" which you can also get for free at www.alice.org.

Rather, it is better, I think, to just briefly look at his legacy, which was his caring attitude about people.

In his "Final Lecture" Pausch is not the morose withdrawn person you would expect him to be. After all, when he gave the lecture, he knew he had only several months to live. Just to punch fate in the mouth, however, he and his wife and three children bought a new home in a nice section of town.

Pausch's Final lecture encompasses how he chased and found his dreams. He talks about what is important; he talks about what he has learned as a teacher and he talks about how he thinks he has helped people. The lecture is humorous and uplifting. It has become a number one bestseller and has been translated into 30 languages.

My wife and I have had some experience working with people who are very ill and it is interesting. The people who have spent their lives involved in other peoples' lives have an easier road with respect o their illness and they don't, as Pausch, shy away from the truth but neither do they let the truth stop their lives.

Randy Pausch died too young but he has left a legacy that will last a very long time.

For anyone who wishes to donate to Pausch's memorial, a link has been provided for you to use to complete that wish by the family.

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