CHESAPEAKE
Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University professor whose funny, upbeat talk about how to live life with gusto while dying was viewed by millions, died early Friday at his Chesapeake home. He was 47.
He was a professor of computer science, human-computer and design who founded a center for entertainment technology and pioneered software designed to allow anyone to create 3-D animations.
It was his lecture on living with joy and zeal, given after he learned he was dying of cancer, that gained him fame and led to a best-selling book. His mother, Virginia Pausch, said Friday that he never expected such a response to his lecture or the book.
"That was the last thing in the world he expected to happen. When the accolades began to pour in, he was just constantly amazed. Surprised. He said, 'Whoever knew that dying would be such a draw?'"
Pausch gave his talk in September after finding out he had three to six months of healthy living left. His pancreatic cancer, which he'd been fighting since fall 2006, had spread to his liver and spleen, essentially a death sentence.
The lecture was "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Pausch's dreams included being in zero gravity, winning stuffed animals at amusement parks, being Captain Kirk, and working as a Disney Imagineer- the people who design Disney theme parks.
Adulthood required changes - Pausch downgraded "being Captain Kirk" to "meeting Captain Kirk," for example - but in his lecture, he spoke of not giving up on the things you really want.
"Remember, brick walls let us show our dedication," he said. "They are there to separate us from the people who don't really want to achieve their childhood dreams. Don't bail."
During the talk, he brought out the collection of stuffed animals he'd won, and showed a brief clip of him floating in zero gravity on one of NASA's "Vomit Comets." Life was about achieving childhood dreams, he said, but it was important to make sure it was also fun.
"I don't know how to not have fun," he told the audience. "I'm dying, and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left."
In May, he was listed by Time Magazine as one of the World's Top 100 Most Influential People. More than 6 million people have viewed versions of the lecture online, his Web site says, The lecture was eventually developed into a book, "The Last Lecture," co-written by Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffrey Zaslow.
"How many people get to influence the lives of millions of people by saying things that spoke to their heart?" said sister Tammy Mason, who was in Chesapeake. "I miss him terribly. I'm happy that he's out of pain. My heart is breaking for his wife and three children."
Pausch moved his family to Chesapeake not long after his diagnosis, in order to be closer to wife Jai's family in Norfolk. There, he updated fans on his health through his Web site. On June 26, he wrote he was considering going off chemo.
His mother visited him in Chesapeake this week. She said what he was most concerned about was not being there to share his life with his wife or help his children grow up.
Virginia Pausch said goodbye to her son Wednesday night.
He is survived by his wife, Jai Glasgow Pausch, and children Dylan, Logan and Chloe.
Staff writer Mike Saewitz contributed to this report.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (757) 222-5216, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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I just purchased 4 copies
I have been so inspired by Rany, I've purchased 4 of his books to give as gifts to people who need to read his words. I hope others will do the same. God Bless!
God bless you Randy, and your family
I've just finished reading Randy's updates on his website. All I can say is, what an inspiration he was to all of us, and what an amazing attitude he had.
I've not read his book. I have a good friend who knew him. She got a copy from him before the public sales, which he autographed. I know she'll cherish this book. I'd like to borrow her special copy to read, but now I know I won't be able to pry it from her hands...
Rest In Peace, Randy, and thank you for sharing your life with us.
Rest In Peace
I'm so saddened to hear of Randy Pausch's death today. I have been following him since I first heard of his lecture on YouTube and always tuned in when he was scheduled to be on various news programs. I had the opportunity to meet Randy and his wife Jai the Saturday before Mother's Day as I was delivering flowers to his wife. He was outside with his neighbors getting ready to drive a "kit car" of a 1965 Shelby Cobra, which he later posted on his daily blog. He was so full of life and if you had not previously known of his illness, you would have never realized anything was going on. He lived life to the absolute fullest and taught me so much about just living. Thank you Randy for all the inspiration and to you, Jai, for showing such amazing strength.
Marie Griffin (Chesapeake, VA)
What a Hero
Randy in his last lecture, taught those who did not "get it" to "get it". While his family mourns his loss today, one day his kids will look back and say WOW my dad was awesome! He was a hero to those with cancer and to many others.
Thank you Randy for teaching me through your lecture and book to be a better person and a better parent.
The Rock
God Speed Randy
I am a single mom,and a R.N. I work in Home Health in Chesapeake.Your lecture has help me in helping dementia patients and their families. They have come so far on your words of what is important in this life.To smile,see the glass half full,never half empty.That quality,is soooo much more important than quantity,and allowing them to be "Tiggers" when they need to be.
Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your life and for touching mine in a way that will never,ever be forgotten.
God bless your wife,kids and family.
Melanie0:)
Another Angel
Heaven has another angel. God Bless him and his family.
Tigger
I have been reading Randy's book and I just bought a small Tigger figure and some Tigger stickers yesterday. I plan to use them in my middle school classroom to inspire everyone to live their life as a "Tigger." His book is a must read!
Peace to the family from a fellow Virginian.
a remarkable man
A remarkable man who left a beautiful legacy to his wife, kids and even the world. He will be sorely missed
There is a memorial page set
There is a memorial page set up for Randy Pausch on Tributes.com where you can leave condolences and remembrances.
These are the kind of people
we should build monuments to!
Randy Pausch
Randy Pausch was an inspiration to all and taught others how to live. As a person with a spinal cord injury, Professor Pausch taught me to stop feeling sorry for myself and enjoy what life has to offer even with a disability. I will never forget him and the messages he shared with the world. I hope he knew all that accompished during his lifetime. He faced death like no one else has and gave all who heard his messages a lot in the short time he was given. God bless him, his family and thank you to his wife and children for sharing him with us during this difficult time. I will miss his web site and updates, but I know he is in a better place watching over all those he loved and who loved him.
It's a Wonderful Life
Randy Pausch accomplished more in his too-short life than man folks who life much longer.
Anyone who listened to the lecture (live or on youtube) or read his book had to come away with a revived appreciation for the good and simple things that make life so worth living. His life is a great example of how people should live and how much simply doing the right thing sets a great example. I feel so much sympathy for his wife and young children - may God hold them in his hand forever.
Randy Pausch was the living embodiment of a song by Tim Graw: "I hope someday you get the chance to live like you were dying."
Just finished "The Last Lecture"
I finished reading Pausch's book around 1 this morning. When I turned on my computer this morning, I uttered an audible, "Oh, my God!" I couldn't believe Randy had passed on the very day I finished the book. His book is a must-read and will make a huge impact on your life. God has blessed us through you, Randy.
saddened
So sorry to read of his passing. I had been checking his blogs daily and there was one posted just yesterday that he was in hospice. Will continue to pray for his family. It always hurts when we read that another person died of cancer, but Randy Pausch was special in that he touched not only his family, but millions around the world with his real-life advice on how to live. God Bless the family.
Thank you for making our lives better
You will be missed.
I would encourage all to search Mr. Pausch's work on his blog & in youtube.com and read/watch all of it.
Your work is truly inspirational.
Thank you.
He was an inspiration
May God bless Mr. Pausch and his family and friends!
What a wonderful person
this world needs more like him.
Such a wonderful man
So sorry to see his passing. He inspired many people, including my husband, who's been reading his book "The Last Lecture."
RIP