Thanks Prof. Pausch

Vaya con Dios...

CMU Professor Randy Pausch Dies After Battle With Cancer
'Last Lecture' In Pittsburgh Touched Viewers Nationwide, Inspired Book

PITTSBURGH -- Last August, doctors told Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Randy Pausch that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and only had months to live.

Almost a year later -- after his story touched people around the world on the Internet and in a best-selling book -- Pausch died Friday at age 47.

"Good Morning America" host Diane Sawyer received a phone call from the family early Friday with the news, and university spokeswoman Anne Watzman confirmed that Pausch died at home in Virginia.

"I think his legacy is probably unbelievable here. He's had to have touched so many lives," said CMU employee Doria Martinelli, of Kennedy Township. "I can even remember growing up myself -- just, like, my basketball coach or a certain teacher or whatever. This guy here touched people that he never even met, which I just think is unbelievable."

"I kind of refuse to believe he's gone," said student Victor Martinelli. "I don't want to have to believe that a guy that important to me is passed away, so I'm kind of in denial right now."

Shortly after being diagnosed, Pausch gave his famous "Last Lecture" at CMU in September 2007. Online video of the inspirational speech has been downloaded millions of times, and Pausch turned it into a book of the same name.

Sawyer once interviewed Pausch and his wife in a special report: A love story for your life.

While his story gained fame, Pausch found himself feeling conflicted, because he said every minute he spent in the spotlight was a minute not spent with his family -- specifically, his three young children.

He often said that all the public appearances he made and interviews he granted were his attempts to wrap himself up in a bottle that would wash up on shore for his kids to see when they were older.

The most recent post on Pausch's personal Web site was from Thursday:

“A biopsy last week revealed that the cancer has progressed further than we had thought from recent PETscans. Since last week, Randy has also taken a step down and is much sicker than he had been. He's now enrolled in hospice. He's no longer able to post here so I'm a friend posting on his behalf because we know that many folks are watching this space for updates.”

Pausch's wife, Jai, issued a statement thanking "the millions of people who have offered their love, prayers and support. Randy was so happy and proud that the lecture and book inspire parents to revisit their priorities... The outpouring of cards and e-mail really sustained him."

CMU is requiring all incoming freshmen to read Pausch's book before the start of their semester, and co-workers are making plans to carry on his legacy.

Administrative assistant Cleah Schlueter -- who collected thousands of letters for Pausch after he delivered his famous speech -- will sell bandannas in his honor for $3 each at the Pick Up The Pace For Pancreatic Cancer 5K walk at North Park on Aug. 17.

Schlueter said she hopes a large group will walk to honor Pausch's life and legacy. For more information, she can be reached by e-mail at cleah@cs.cmu.edu or by phone at (412) 268-9656.

In addition to his "Last Lecture," Pausch was known at CMU for starting The Alice Project to help teenage girls learn how to program computers. It's a 3D environment that lets them create animation or play an interactive game while learning.

The family requests that donations on Pausch's behalf be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, Calif., 90245, or to CMU's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund, which supports work on the Alice project.