Randy Pausch: Goodbye To An Incredible Human Being
In May 2008 Professor Randy Pausch gave a speech to the graduating class at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You may recall his inspiring "Last Lecture" given in September 2007 which touched millions of people, causing us to reflect on the real meaning of life by someone who knew whereof he spoke.
I was saddened to learn of his death this morning - at the age of forty-seven - of complications from the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
He is survived by his wife Jai and their three young children.
Our prayers and thoughts are with them.
Randy Pausch was a brilliant researcher and gifted teacher. More importantly he was an amazing father with a definite grasp on reality and priorities.
He had these words to say to the class of 2008 as I have paraphrased here.
It will not sadden you. It will lift you up.
What an amazing testament to the human spirit.
"It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbed, it is the things we do not.....Find your passion and follow it. And if there is anything I have learned in my life.... you will not find that passion in things...and you will not find that passion in money.... because the more things and the more money you have the more you will just look around and use that as the metric and there will always be someone with more.
"That passion will be grounded in people and it will be grounded in the relationships you have with people and what they think of you when your time comes."
And then carried his true love off the stage in his cap and gown.
May he rest in peace.
Professor Randy Pausch
Copyright © 2008 Mimi Lenox. All Rights Reserved.
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23 comments:
Sorry to hear that. I loved the excerpt you posted. I'm going to listen to the video.
I've watched his last lecture many, many times. What an inspiration he was and will remain to be. Incredible human being is right on the money Mimi. Have a great day and weekend sweetie. Big hug and lotsa lovies. :)
Peace be.
Such a shame that such a life was cut down way too soon by an insidious killer.
What a horrible loss. I feel sad for his lovely family .
Professor Pausch spoke some very wise words.
Rest in Peace, dear Professor.
i saw that first thing on my yahoo news page this morning. it saddened me, too. he was an inspiration...i remember sitting here watching the video of his lecture. by the time it was over, i was in tears. i was just thinking i needed to put up the video again (i had put it in a previous post). now i'm going to watch this one on yours.
I was saddened to read this on my news page as well. Such a tragedy.
You wrote a lovely tribute to him which I will share with friends.
Have a peaceful weekend, Mimi.
A fitting tribute! Well done...
Such an inspiration. There is far too much whining for so many insignificant things for so many people.
The people around you matter the most. Like he said, we should hope to find that passion and love...and live life to its fullest with those most important people.
My daughter, Megan, gave me Randy's book for my birthday this past May. Then I saw the whole 75 minute YouTube video of his "last lecture." He was truly an inspirational figure. It makes me sad that he is gone.
This was a nice tribute post, Mimi. Thanx!
Charles - His lecture is truly amazing. I hope you got a chance to listen.
Sandee - There are many wonderful lessons in that speech. Thanks for the hug...,
Margo - Indeed. Especially to his little children who must have a million questions.
Linda - It is a tragedy. So very very sad.
Barbara - Wise,yes.
Ciara - I've had him on my mind lately as well.
Patti - Yes, just horrible.
Bud - He deserves so much praise in my opinion for putting his children first and foremost through this whole ordeal.
Ralph - I loved what he said at the graduation speech about the love of his life and how long he'd waited to find her. It was touching and real. Rare.
Ferd - The book is amazing I'm sure. What a nice gift. Glad you liked the tribute but sad it had to be written in the first place.
Such a sad loss, but what an inspiring man!
Yes this is sad, sad, sad, but, what he did to help promote better science will live on for quite some time. Loved his book.
So sad when a young life is cut down, Mimi.
Gill - Certainly an inspiration to millions.
jb - His research was amazing and has helped so many kids grasp technology and its benefits. I haven't read the book but intend to.
Great to see you again!
Jean-luc - Yes, indeed. But what a legacy eh?
I adored Randy. I posted about this yesterday too. It is a tragic loss of a brilliant, inspriational human being.
Courageous. Life-affirming. Rest in peace.
Oh, this is sad, Mimi. What a marvelous man. Last comment I made here was about people getting married. And he said just what I always tell my kids: find someone you love so much that their happiness and success matter more to you than your own. AND--here's often the sticking point, vice versa. Find someone who cares more about you realizing your potential than they do about their own.
Perhaps that's asking too much. But then it might happen more often if that's what people were seeking.
Jodi - He will me missed by many.
Lori - Perfect response.
Kathleen - They had onlky been married 8 years. Just beginning with so much promise and joy.
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