Sunday, July 27th, 2008...3:34 pm - Gary Hayes
Virtual World Educator and Moving Last Lecturer dies at 47
We at LAMP and AFTRS know of Randy’s legacy via contacts at Carnegie Mellon ETC in Adelaide and after seeing Randy Pausch’s passion for his pioneering work in the last lecture it is very sad news that he died this week. Text from the Carnegie Mellon site provides more detail.
“Pausch co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center and led researchers who created Alice, a revolutionary way to teach computer programming. He was widely respected in academic circles for a unique interdisciplinary approach, bringing together artists, dramatists and designers to break new ground by working in collaboration with computer scientists.
Outside the classroom, he gained public fame for delivering what would come to be known as “The Last Lecture.” On Sept. 18, 2007, only a month after doctors told him that he had three-to-six months to live following a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, he presented a lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” to a packed auditorium at Carnegie Mellon.
The moving and often humorous talk recounted his efforts to achieve such childhood dreams as becoming a professional football player, experiencing zero gravity and developing Disney World attractions. In the process, he shared his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously.
The video of the last lecture is embedded below:
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