Randy Pausch Was a Teacher for Us All
Word came this morning that Randy Pausch, known for his "last lecture," has died.
A post to his personal blog placed just yesterday alerted us that he had moved to hospice. As our About.com guide describes hospice, it allows for palliative care for the last weeks or months of life. When someone enters hospice care, he does so knowing the end is near, and the care is concentrated on comfort and pain relief instead of pursuit of a cure.
Randy Pausch was the consummate empowered patient. How lucky we ALL are that he chose to fight his disease for as long as he could, and worked to retain the quality of his life, not just the quantity.
As the patient who partnered with his doctors, who communicated with his family and healthcare team, who learned about his disease and the potential to fight it, who tried various treatments, and continued to move on to new ones when necessary, who even wrote a book to help us after his death -- we can all learn from Randy's example.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Randy's family. I wish them all peace, and peace of mind, knowing that their loved one made a very positive difference in the lives of millions of people.
Comments
What an amazing man indeed. God bless his family.
This is very sad news. He was a great man and an inspiration to many, including me. I was so happy to hear that J.J. gave him a small role on the new Star Trek and I was really hoping that he would make it long enough to see himself when the movie premiered in May. Thank you J.J. for making one of his dreams come true.
You will be missed my friend. Beam him up, dad
Randy you will truly be missed. You are still an incredible inspiration to me and my entire family. We recently lost my father to pancreatic cancer and you gave us such a sense of well being that was really comforting. Rest easy and our thoughts and prayers to your wife and 3 children.
There is a memorial page set up for Randy Pausch on Tributes.com where you can leave condolences and remembrances.
my deepest sympathy to randy pausch family. truly a remarkable man
Millions of eyeballs reading about a basically self-aggrandizing university prof, and nary a word written about many of the real heroes of the world who die prolonged desperate deaths after war injuries, street violence, in fires, in devoting their lives to saving others and for human liberty. Randy Pausch programmed computer game illusions - nothing wrong with that - but why so much attention is given to him and so little to the millions of others who have much more compelling stories and teach more important lessons than simply “life is short, have fun” is the real tragedy.
ItsJustAnotherDay, what you might consider is that Randy has not taken away anything from anyone else. You are right — many people die heroes and “no one” notices. Life sucks for millions of people.
What Randy has *added* was encouragement — by voice and action — to people willing to listen. For some people, it seemed self-aggrandizement; for others, it was an influential message of hope, strength, and courage.
Even if you’ve not benefitted from his message, I doubt you’ve been harmed — so just let it be. Peace.
Dear “ItsJustAnotherDay” How rude of you. And not only are you rude but you just dont get it. He did not become loved by millions for “programming computer game illusions” and you look like a fool for saying that. What made him so loved by people who never even met him was how he handled himself knowing he was dying. He only looked at the bright side of things, something we can all benefit from. My thoughts are with his family.
ItsJustAnotherDay, you are just an ignorant person. He accomplished more for all the people and elevated human beings a bit higher than you probably could ever do. My thoughts are with his family also.
Wow - let these humble words reflect on a unique human being named Randy Pausch, who touched and inspired millions, purely by accident. For those few, self-serving and mis-guided individuals who can’t see beyond their own pain, help them learn the exact lesson Randy was trying to teach. Think bigger, live larger and don’t be afraid to embrace life to its fullest…no matter how long or short life might be. Bless all those who have yet to learn those lessons. Bless Randy’s family and all who loved him. And may we all say a prayer for anyone suffering today and beyond.
His 15 minutes of fame are now officially over.
Randy Pausch and his message to live every second as if it were your last will live on in the hearts and memories of the millions whose lives he touched. He didn’t want the fame. He did this all for his kids - so that they would have tangible “evidence” of who he was and what he valued most. Randy Pausch was a modern day Everyman and that is why he touched a chord with so many, and in doing so he inadvertently became famous. God Bless Randy and his family for sharing your remarkable journey with us.
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I was really inspired by Randy - what a remarkable man! My prayers and best wishes for him and his family. I had the honor of seeing him at the CMU graduation for the class of 2008 on May 18, 2008 when I was attending my daughter’s graduation.
I hope all of us can learn from his life and teachings.
This man is amazing When i heard of his death I cried not stopped I only hope & wish I can be so brave
May God be with the family of a person who truly inspired millions around the world.
Randy was an inspiration to me even before I got the bad news about my mom. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer at the end of May. I sit beside her now as she is days (or less) away from death, and I hope that, in the future, fewer people will have to see their loved ones experience this horrible, horrible death. Randy helped put a face on Pancreatic Cancer, and for that I am thankful. His optimism and love for his family has also brought me comfort as I watch my mom’s suffering.
To the naysayers — everyone dies, not only “good” people. The dying often seem to have the most wisdom and insight. Live life to the fullest, and recognize that we ALL make our mark on the world, rich or poor, famous or unknown, kind or cruel, heroic or aloof.
At first what caught my attention was here is a man who is only 46 years old, has three young children and dying of Pancreatic Cancer. My mother died of the same disease - it’s a horrible and painful cancer which grows more painful as the tumors grow.
Watching Dr. Pausch on Primetime in April, he had such a way with words! So I watched the Last Lecture online. Then I bought the book. Randy has taught me to focus on the positive. Being sad and angry wastes too much energy. Be thankful for being healthy and alive. Love my children with all my heart! It wasn’t his intention to be famous, however when a teacher has an audience, he teaches!
In recent passing of days, I too as those before me have reason to pause, and take notice of the sojourn traveler Randy Pausch. For a moment time fluttered and I caught a glimpse of his life. His world. For he did invite me in. And amidst his spirit’s gentle kindness, I found favor in his presence and a better self to be. As a gift he freely offered his best, with the stance and courage of a noble man. For he would share a great truth, an ancient wisdom. And words of great prophets, would rest upon my shoulders as his mantle. Though I came to his life as a nomad, he would take his leave of me as a friend. And I will eternally think of him as “brother.” And in the love and beauty of his spirit I find no equal, even in the godly splendor of world nature. For it is his light I shall see at the kiss of dawn, and his sparkle I will remember, racing across the depths of night sky.
arrivederci Randy…e grazie di tutto…