Randy Pausch – R.I.P.
By Deb
It’s no surprise to my regular readers of my admiration for Professor Randy Pausch. I’ve been watching his site for two weeks with no change of his numbers or his condition, and Saturday I heard the worst. Randy Pausch, husband, father of 3 young children, beloved professor, great human being, has died. He succumbed to complications due to the pancreatic cancer he has been battling for nearly 2 years.
My heart is sad, my sympathies and support go out to his wife Jai and their children. This day has been coming as far as Jai knew for some time now, but the children were not told until his illness began to be evident, due to their inability to comprehend time the way adults do. As it was explained in an ABC interview by the psychologist Randy and Jai consulted on how best to handle the situation with their children, a young child can “get” the passage of time throughout one day, from breakfast to bedtime. But beyond that, tomorrow is an eon away. So telling them prematurely that Daddy is dying in 3-6 months is meaningless to them.
I can’t begin to imagine what his family is going through. Let’s hope “the nets” he made to help cushion his family’s fall off the cliff of dealing with his death, do their job as he intended.
Here are links to other posts of videos of Randy (each opens in its own window):
Creativity and Achieving Childhood Dreams – Never Too Late
Creative Writing – How to Write a Book on a Bike, Randy Pausch-Style
Writing May Save Your Life – So Express Yourself
Writing Lifestyle – Another Great Randy Pausch Video
Perhaps another day I’ll be able to utter something more about Randy. Right now my heart is too full. Rest in Peace, Professor Pausch. And thank you that in your dying, you taught us how to live.
