Randy Pausch, the charismatic Carnegie-Mellon University professor of computer science, died this morning of pancreatic cancer. Last fall, a year after his diagnosis, he delivered a last lecture to his students. Its power and maturity, when posted on the internet, drew more than 6 million hits, triggered the creation of a Last Lecture website, and afforded Dr. Pausch the opportunity to turn it into a runaway bestseller which he left as his legacy to his three young children.

Dr. Pausch, who addressed the graduating class at Carnegie Mellon University this past May, told the graduates that, “…we don’t beat the Reaper by living longer. We beat the Reaper by living well." Dr. Pausch was only 47.

Thanks, Sernabad. I had lost track of this story, and am grateful for the complete, concise update.