From IDG News Service:
Randy Pausch, a computer-science professor who became internationally known for his inspiring “Last Lecture,” passed away in Chesapeake, Virginia, Friday after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 47. In an obituary issued by Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, where Pausch was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, University President Jared L. Cohon said Pausch has had “an enormous and lasting impact” on the university community. “He was a brilliant researcher and gifted teacher,” Cohon said. “Carnegie Mellon – and the world – are better places for having had Randy Pausch in them.”
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I have to confess that I resisted checking out the Last Lecture for a long time, fearing it would be way too Mitch Albom-esque. But I did wind up printing it out a month or so ago and reading it in between innings while in standing room at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. While I couldn’t relate to a lot of what Pausch discussed (his fascination with Star Trek and Disney, etc.), I could relate to other stuff (his bland food eating habits, his chasing of odd dreams like writing an encyclopedia entry) there’s no doubt this was a guy who made the most of his life and changed those of others for the best.
