Randy Pausch, a former University of Virginia professor, gives his final lecture on time management to a packed house on the Charlottesville, Va., campus in November 2007. Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an international sensation and a best-selling book, died today from complications of pancreatic cancer at 47.
4 Images

Randy Pausch | 1960-2008

Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch, a former University of Virginia professor, gives his final lecture on time management to a packed house on the Charlottesville, Va., campus in November 2007. Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose “last lecture” about facing terminal cancer became an international sensation and a best-selling book, died today from complications of pancreatic cancer at 47.  (Kaylin Bowers / Daily Progress via AP)

Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch talks to the standing-room-only crowd at Carnegie Mellon University in September 2007. The lecture became an Internet phenomenon and best-selling book that turned him into a symbol for living and dying well.  (Pam Panchak / Post-Gazette via AP)

Randy Pausch

Pausch carries his wife, Jai, back to their seats after giving the charge to the graduates at Carnegie Mellon University’s commencement ceremony in May.  (Bob Donaldson / Post-Gazette via AP)

Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch, giving a commencement speech to Carnegie Mellon students, used the attention he garnered to address the need for cancer research, appearing before Congress in March and filming a fund-raising spot for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.  (Bob Donaldson / Post-Gazette via AP)

1/4