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Professor's Legacy: Love Of Life

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2008

Regarding "Carnegie Mellon Professor's Dream Filled Life Ends At 47" (front page, July 26):

Friday while at work on my lunch break, I did what I usually do: eat lunch at my desk, read my favorite parts of Mother Trib, and then I clicked on tbo.com.

My jaw dropped. Randy Pausch, the professor from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, had succumbed to his cancer.

I was "introduced" to Professor Pausch on the Oprah show last year. While watching his "The Last Lecture" I was mesmerized with his charm, wit, sometimes biting humor and, above all, his message to all of us: Don't let your dreams get away from you, no matter how old you are.

As he did his one-handed pushups and even offered his stuffed animals from his childhood to complete strangers during "The Last Lecture," I knew this extraordinary man was someone special and someone who has the opportunity to change many people's lives around the world with his message of hope, love, charity and, of course, your dreams!

I quickly, tearfully, became a fan of the man and his message and ordered from carnegiemellon.com his last lecture on DVD. I have watched and shared his words and wisdom with many friends and family with that DVD and steering others to the "lecture" on YouTube.

I know Pausch's wife and three beautiful children are so proud of him. I feel proud to have gotten to "know" him at the final stages of his amazing life.

I certainly feel my life has been affected by Pausch and his last lecture and the following appearances, follow-ups and news pieces on his life and living with an outlook that cannot be changed.

Throughout every single interview, story and news report he remained stronger than I would have at his fate, and I certainly hope and pray if I am ever in a situation as his, I can find the strength, perseverance and love of life to face each day with such love and vigor.

Rest in peace, professor-husband-father-friend Randy Pausch. The world is a better place because you were a part of it.

SCOTT KJEER

Riverview

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