• Originally published July 29, 2008 at 4:32 p.m., updated July 29, 2008 at 4:32 p.m.

We were saddened by the passing July 25 of 47-year-old Professor Randy Pausch, a victim of pancreatic cancer. Pausch created the now famous “Last Lecture,” which he delivered in fall 2007 to an audience of hundreds at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pa. The lecture was made into a best-seller book by the same name and co-written by Jeff Zaslow. And millions have viewed Pausch’s lecture on YouTube.

With only two to three months to live, as the computer science professor thought at the time, he decided to deliver his last lecture with the focus of imparting wisdom to his three children, sharing sage advice as he could in the short time he had left on this planet.

Countering famous American poet Emily Dickinson, who wrote, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant…,” Pausch said, “Tell the truth. All the time.”

This sample of his advice is reminiscent of the wisdom that permeates his lecture and is good counsel for all of us.

“Find the best in everybody … wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you. It might even take years, but people will show you their good side,” Pausch said.

Even with his diagnosis of doom, he remained high spirited and served as a brilliant, luminous light for us all.

“I’ve never understood pity and self-pity as an emotion. We have a finite amount of time. Whether short or long, it doesn’t matter. Life is to be lived,” he said.

Many of us know of the kind of lifestyle Pausch’s words invoke, but many of us need such reminders; his example is appreciated. His love of life and family would never die in his mind.

“…death is a part of life, and it’s going to happen to all of us. I have the blessing of getting a little bit of advance notice, and I am able to optimize my use of time down the home stretch.”

And, “If you’re going to have childhood dreams, you should have great parents who let you pursue them and express your creativity.”

We think Randy Pausch left a huge mark on our society and, most certainly, his family. His intentions were to leave helpful lessons for his children, but he left lessons for all of us. What a positive force in a time we need such beacons.

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