A professor's lasting lecture

It seems almost impossible to talk about "goodbyes" without mentioning Randy Pausch. As you may know, Dr. Pausch is a Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor who is dying of pancreatic cancer. He is 47 years old.

Last fall, after doctors predicted he had only a few months left of healthy living, Dr. Pausch gave a "last lecture" to a crowd of students, colleagues, and friends. He focused not on his illness but on achieving his childhood dreams, helping others reach theirs, and the things that matter most in his life -- including his wife and three young kids. After a Wall Street Journal article and video hit the Web, millions of viewers saw it. That let to media coverage around the world and a recently published book, "The Last Lecture," expanding on the lessons of his talk. To make sure the project didn't take too much time away from his children, he talked with co-author Jeff Zaslow during regular bike rides to preserve his strength.

Randy Pausch's message about living life to its fullest has resonated with people because, I think, of his passion, courage, and candor in the face of a deadly illness. In a world full of cynicism, his optimism and humble, boyish nature are refreshing, and his lessons profound: Never give up. Apologize when you screw up. Tell the truth. Listen to others. Show gratitude. Find the best in everybody.

You can watch the lecture, learn about pancreatic cancer, and get updates about Dr. Pausch's health status on his home page, at http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/