Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon Professor
Computer Science professor, Randy Pausch, who inspired and entertained online audiences with his “Last Lecture” on facing terminal pancreatic cancer, died on Friday, July 25, 2008 at the age of 47. Pausch was at home in Virginia with his family when he passed on.
In September 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In 2007, he gave a “Last Lecture” speech, part of a Carnegie Mellon series where professors gave hypothetical end-of-life talks on what really matters most. Pausch’s lecture celebrated living a life he always dreamed about rather than focusing on his impending death.
“The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful,” Pausch wrote on his Web site. “But rest assured; I’m hardly unique.”
Millions of people have viewed his lecture online. The series also inspired a book called “The Last Lecture.”
We are happy to provide the lecture in its entirety below. We hope it inspires you as much as it has millions of others.
