He who is not forgotten will not die

When times get tough and external stressors tip the scales of emotional imbalance towards the darkness of unchartered thought…I seek solace in the sagacious mantra and steadfast oration of eloquent preceptors.

One such inspirational raconteur, inspiring optimism in the face of adversity was Dr Randy Pausch.

Dr Randolph Frederick “Randy” Pausch (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) was (at least, according to his mum) “a doctor…but not the kind who helps people…”. He was a professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In September 2006 Dr Pausch learned that he had pancreatic cancer and in August 2007 he was given a terminal diagnosis: “3 to 6 months of good health left” and gave an upbeat lecture entitled “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon.

However, the lecture isn’t about dying. It is about the importance of overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others,seizing every moment (because “time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think”). It is a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It is about living…

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come. – The Last Lecture

Dr. Randy Pausch On the Oprah Winfrey Show: The Last Lecture [Abridged]

Dr Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams‬ [Full Version]