Randy Pausch Dies ("Last Lecture Guy")

[Necronus]

Figured since I originally saw this guys video posted here in General that I'd post it.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080725/...ot/obit_pausch

[Nightbreed]

Died today at the age of 47.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/book...ef=mpstoryview

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47.

Randy Pausch emphasized the joy of life in his "last lecture," originally given in September 2007.

Pausch died at his home in Virginia, university spokeswoman Anne Watzman said. Pausch and his family moved there last fall to be closer to his wife's relatives.

Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.

In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death. Watch Pausch talk to his class »

"The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique."

The book "The Last Lecture," written with Jeffrey Zaslow, leaped to the top of the nonfiction best-seller lists after its publication in April and remains there this week. Pausch said he dictated the book to Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal writer, by cell phone. The book deal was reported to be worth more than $6 million.

At Carnegie Mellon, he was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, and was recognized as a pioneer of virtual reality research. On campus, he became known for his flamboyance and showmanship as a teacher and mentor.

The speech last fall was part of a series Carnegie Mellon called "The Last Lecture," where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk. The name of the lecture series was changed to "Journeys" before Pausch spoke, something he joked about in his lecture.

He told the packed auditorium he fulfilled almost all his childhood dreams -- being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co.

The one that eluded him? Playing in the National Football League.

"If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you," Pausch said.

He then joked about his quirky hobby of winning stuffed animals at amusement parks -- another of his childhood dreams -- and how his mother introduced him to people to keep him humble: "This is my son, he's a doctor, but not the kind that helps people."

Pausch said he was embarrassed and flattered by the popularity of his message. Millions viewed the complete or abridged version of the lecture, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," online.

Pausch lobbied Congress for more federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and appeared on "Oprah" and other TV shows. In what he called "a truly magical experience," he was even invited to appear as an extra in the new "Star Trek" movie.

He had one line of dialogue, got to keep his costume and donated his $217.06 paycheck to charity.

Pausch blogged regularly about his medical treatment. On Feb. 15, exactly six months after he was told he had three to six months of healthy living left, Pausch posted a photo of himself to show he was "still alive & healthy."

"I rode my bike today; the cumulative effects of the chemotherapy are hurting my stamina some, but I bet I can still run a quarter mile faster than most Americans," he wrote.

Pausch gave one more lecture after his Carnegie Mellon appearance -- in November at the University of Virginia, where he had taught from 1988 to 1997.

Pausch often emphasized the need to have fun.

"I mean I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it," he said in his Carnegie Mellon lecture. "You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore. I think I'm clear where I stand on the great Tigger/Eeyore debate. Never lose the childlike wonder. It's just too important. It's what drives us."

Born in 1960, Pausch received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Brown University and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon.

He co-founded Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center, a master's program for bringing artists and engineers together. The university named a footbridge in his honor. He also created an animation-based teaching program for high school and college students to have fun while learning computer programming.


In February, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in California announced the creation of the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund for university students who pursue careers in game design, development and production.

He and his wife, Jai, had three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe.

[fren.]

Fuck.

[izembo]

i support this thread as it has more info instead of a video.

sad to see someone go =(

[Khamsin]

And Necronus wins by a nose, but Nightbreed included the text. Threads merged.

[Azalee]

People need to stop fucking dying... >.<;

[skurlover]

Damnit, now I've have to watch his lecture tonight again. Go go tearjerker.

[Myst]

sad. very intelligent man. that lecture really touched me.

[Cow_k]

People need to stop fucking dying... >.<;

Unfortunately, I don't think that's in the cards for any of us...

[Akiyama]

Sad to see the man go. I wish his family the best.

[thestalkmore]

RIP

[shieldsofwindurst]

I was lucky enough to graduate this past may at CMU, and had the incredible honor to listen to him speak at both the general commencement and at the ceremony for the school of computer science. He was truly inspiring. One of the people that makes the world a better place.

[Mayareira]

His lecture was very, very impresssive. For some reason I never thought he would actually die.

Fuck cancer.

[Kaddisfly]

I came home from work one day, turned on the TV to game some games and fuckin Oprah was on.

I leave it on to go piss come back and this dude was on the TV giving a speech. I don't think much of it and get distracted by something on my computer. I dick around with that for about 10 minutes but I keep getting distracted by this dude on Oprah.

Finally I close my laptop and lean back on the couch and listen to this guys lecture. In about 20 minutes I have a tear going down my face and the wife walks in and just stares at me.

"I don't know..." I respond.

"Ghey" she responds.

"Oprah..." I respond.

"Oh..." she says as she sits down.

We both get misty eyed as we watch him wrap up his life story/lecture. I have to give it to this guy. Not only is he brilliant but the last bit of his life he lived, he lived it with so much passion and respect. I'm not a fan of Oprah or any of this kind of lecture's on how to improve your lifestyle, but something about this guy touched my heart.

The sad part was, I didn't realize he was even dying until the end of the show. At that point I almost had to bite my lip in half to keep from squirting any more tears.

This guy deserves everyone's respect. I too wish his family the best and hope his journey from this world is peaceful.

[Mizango]

Sad to see the man go. I wish his family the best.

Indeed.

[Lockecole7]

Coming from someone who's uncle just passed away this month from pancreatic cancer, I can truly say that two great men I've known have died this month in my life...hopefully it'll be the last. Its truly hard to deal with our loved ones dying due to cancer, because it's something that leaves you feeling so helpless in its inevitable doom. All one can do is thank the good influences those who have passed away have left with us.

[AkashiXI]

I really hope there's a heaven because this guy definitely deserves to be there. :/

[Senoska]

One of my uncles has pancreatic cancer, what a shitty day. I can say I had to choke back tears just from the article, Randy was a role model for me and one of the main reasons I went to college, for no other reason than to pursue my childhood dream. I aspire to be like him, minus the dying part.