Legacy of Randy Pausch - Tributes & Memorials

TERMINAL ILLNESS
"Last Lecture" professor, Randy Pausch, his body ravaged by the treatment and debilitating impact of pancreatic cancer, sadly succumbed to the deadly disease on the morning of Friday, July 25, 2008. Professor Randy Pausch died at his home in Virginia and is survived by his wife Jai and his three children Chloe, Logan and Dylan. Pausch passed away at the age of 47 less than 10 months ago from when he gave his inspirational "Last Lecture" speech on September 18, 2007.

LIVING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME
His tragic death is inspirational for how he lived not only his life but for every day he survived since his terminal diagnosis. Less than a year ago in August 2007, he was given 3 to 6 months to live and managed to extend his life and live each day with dignity and passion finding time to lecture, deliver a convocation address, testify in front of Congress, make television appearances, update his blog on his medical condition, complete a book and spend as much time as possible with his wife and kids.

DAILY INSPIRATION
I first heard about Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" which was included in one line of type in a year end out/in list published in the Washington Post at the end of 2007. The article's author proclaimed "The Secret" as out and "The Last Lecture" as in. Thanks to You Tube and the web, I was able to watch Randy's speech in its entirety. I was moved by his simple message and infectious enthusiasm and hope for achieving your childhood dreams.

RANDY PAUSCH BEATING THE ODDS
Randy Pausch also took the time to update a blog on his medical progress. I love that here he is this mega virtual reality computer guy and yet his own website blog was a very simple text driven site that he simply formatted with what he called box scores which gave information on how his cancer was metastasizing and candid pictures of his family. I'd like to think it is more than morbid fascination but rather sincere concern which drove me every couple of days to click on his website to see how he was doing. Somehow, it gave me great comfort to know that with each day he was alive that Randy Pausch was beating the odds and the world was that much better a place with him in it.

RANDY PAUSCH'S INSPIRATION LIVES ON
It was comforting since I discovered Pausch to click and read his quick postings on what he was doing and how he was boldly keeping up the fight. And his posts were wide and varied, not always serious. But it showed a willingness to be open and honest with what he was going through. His love for his wife, kids, life and his work was wonderfully apparent. Enthusiasm and his warmth shone through in his writing. His posts included his boyish enthusiasm for a role in Star Trek and taking time to enjoy a Police concert and meeting Sting with his wife Jai.

SILENCE IS DEAFENING
So it was always with a bit of dread and nervous anticipation that I would click on the link. I had noticed lately in July there were no postings just simply a post about a month ago that indicated the chemotherapy treatment was no longer effective. I knew the day would come that I would click on his daily update page website and Randy's voice would eventually be silenced.

WE ARE ALL DYING
Having a terminal disease, Pausch was fully aware that he had a limited amount of time to live. He was given a lifeline of 3-6 months and he outlived his initial prognosis, stretching out his limited time to 10 months. Buddhism sheds profound emphasis on the fact that from the day we are born we are all dying everyday. While some may consider this a grim view of life, like Pausch, I think it is a recognition to celebrate life in the present, to appreciate every moment we are given on this earth. Yet, between griping and sweating the minutiae, we sometimes fail to recognize the gift of living another day and in life and death, Pausch provides precious inspiration and insight.

LIVING WITH CONVICTION
If you haven't seen Pausch's Last Lecture or would like to pay tribute to Randy Pausch, click here for a link to his Carnegie Mellon Lecture "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" which also includes links to donate to the Randy Pausch Inspirational Tribute Site with proceeds to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia.org/Randy Pausch
Randy Pausch Memorial