Rest in Peace, Randy Pausch

Beloved CMU computer science professor Randy Pausch died last night. He’d been battling pancreatic cancer for quite a while and had surpassed the estimated number of months they told him he had to live when he was diagnosed.

Randy leaves behind a lovely wife, Jai Glasgow Pausch, and three beautiful children, Logan, Dylan and Chloe.

I never had the opportunity to meet Randy, unfortunately, but his story touched me as it touched so many people. I felt a bit of a connection because his wife used to work in my department at UNC and he had collaborated with some of the researchers in my department as well. The people who knew and worked with him considered him more than a collaborator, though – he was a friend.

The woman who used to work in my position at UNC is pretty good friends with Jai (from their time working together in my department), and Jai, Randy and the kids had visited her and her family not too long before Randy was diagnosed.

I can’t imagine what this must be like for Jai, and I wish her, her children and the rest of their family and friends peace through this difficult time.

If you aren’t familiar with Randy (and, um, who isn’t? but just in case), here are a couple of links. They are probably pretty heavily trafficked today, but, if you can get to them, they are well worth your time to watch and/or listen or read. Well worth your time. He was truly inspirational.

ABC’s Diane Sawyer interviews Randy

“The Last Lecture” on CMU’s web site

“The Last Lecture” book web site

Rest in Peace, Randy Pausch.