Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture Professor, Dies at 47

Randy Pausch died today after a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer.  Dr Pausch was a very popular computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon and became nationally recognized after his "Last Lecture" speech became a motivational must watch on YouTube.

The Last Lecture is a speaking series created by Carnegie Mellon for their best professors.  What would you say in one hour if hypothetically you knew it was the last time you would address the class?  Many professors had already participated in this motivational series, but no one had presented knowing they were "really" terminally ill.

Instead of focusing on death and Cancer, Dr. Pausch used his seventy-six minutes on September 18th, 2007 in front of a standing-room only audience to share optimism.  In between push-ups he explains how to fulfill childhood dreams and talks about his memorable experiences. 

I can bullet point some of my favorite quotes, but that would be unfair.   Watch the video.  It is really incredible.

He is survived by his wife and children Dylan, Logan, and Chloe. Donations can be made to the Carnegie Mellon’s Randy Pausch Memorial Fund