Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch - Motivational Speaker, Timeline and Life

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Randy Pausch's Personal Details

Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch was an American professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 23, 1960
Died onJuly 25, 2008
NationalityAmerican
FamousIntellectuals & Academics, Public Speakers, Educationist, Motivational Speaker, Professor
City/StateMaryland
SpousesJai Glasgow
Known asRandy Frederick Pausch
ChildrensChloe Pausch, Dylan Pausch, Logan Pausch
Universities
  • Brown University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Entertainment Technology Center
Cause of death
  • Cancer
Birth PlaceBaltimore, Maryland, United States
ReligionUnitarian Universalism
GenderMale
Sun SignLibra
Born inBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Famous asMotivational Speaker, Educationist, Professor
Died at Age47

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Randy Pausch's photo

Who is Randy Pausch?

Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch was an American professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who rose to fame following his lecture titled ‘The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ shortly after he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. An academician who specialized in the fields of computer science, human–computer interaction, and design, he was also a very prominent researcher who had worked on various projects with Adobe, Google, EA, and Walt Disney. Over the course of his career, he had co-founded CMU's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) in collaboration with his colleague Don Marinelli. His career was in full-swing when in September 2006 he started suffering from severe health problems. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 46, Randy Pausch found himself re-evaluating his life and career. Having achieved several of his childhood dreams, he decided to share all his knowledge and experiences on living a happy and productive life with his students before it was too late. Thus on September 18, 2007, Pausch delivered ‘The Last Lecture’ which was recorded and shared widely on social media, making the hitherto unknown professor a celebrity of sorts. The popularity of his lecture also led him to author a book of the same name which went on to become a best-seller.

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Childhood & Early Life

Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch was born on October 23, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland to Fred and Virginia Pausch. His father was a lawyer and insurance-company executive while his mother taught English. He had one sister, Tammy.

The Pausch household was full of books and the children were raised in an intellectually stimulating environment. They were encouraged to read a lot and discussions and debates about philosophy, religion, and morals were common at the dinner table.

He attended the Oakland Mills High School in Columbia following which he enrolled at Brown University to study computer science. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1982. At the advice of his professors, he decided to venture into academics and proceeded to earn his Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University in August 1988.

Career

After completing his doctorate in 1988, Randy Pausch accepted a teaching position at the University of Virginia. He worked there for nearly a decade and spent a couple of years on sabbatical during which he worked with the Disney Corp. Working for Disney had been a childhood dream and he would serve as a consultant to the company his entire career.

Disney was very much impressed by Randy Pausch’s work and offered him a full-time position. However, Pausch was more inclined towards an academic career and declined this offer.

In 1997, he returned to his alma mater Carnegie Mellon University as an Associate Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design. The following year, Pausch collaborated with his colleague Don Marinelli to co-found CMU's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) to teach students interdisciplinary skills in design, art and technology.

Along with his career as an academician, he also acted as a consultant to companies like Google, PARC, and Media Metrix. He was a prolific writer as well, and was the author or co-author of five books and over 70 articles.

Cancer Diagnosis & �

Randy Pausch began experiencing some health problems in mid-2006. After a slew of tests, it was confirmed in September that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He immediately underwent a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading.

The procedure, however, was unsuccessful in halting the disease. In August 2007, he was told that the cancer was terminal and was given around three to six months to live.

Finding himself on the verge of death, Randy Pausch decided to make the most of the time he had left. A dedicated professor, he decided to deliver a powerful lecture on the value of time management and on how to achieve your childhood dreams.

On September 18, 2007, he delivered a lecture titled ‘The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ at Carnegie Mellon. The lecture was recorded and posted to YouTube where it soon became a viral phenomenon. The lecture received so much attention that he was invited to appear on the popular TV talk show, ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in October where he summarized his ‘Last Lecture.’

The international popularity of the lecture led him to co-author a book called ‘The Last Lecture,’ which he wrote alongside Jeffrey Zaslow of the ‘Wall Street Journal.’ The book detailed several of the points he had discussed in the lecture he had given at Carnegie Mellon. The book became a ‘New York Times’ bestseller in 2008, and remained on the list for 112 weeks. Since then, it has been translated into 48 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies in the United States alone.

Awards & Achievements

In 2007, Randy Pausch became the first CMU professor to win the prestigious Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award. The same year, he also received the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.

He was also inducted as a Fellow of the ACM in 2007.

He was named Pittsburgher of the Year 2008.

Personal Life & Legacy

Randy Pausch first met Jai Glasgow in the fall of 1998 at the University of North Carolina when she was a graduate student in comparative literature and he was giving a guest lecture on virtual reality. He was immediately attracted to her and two started dating. They were married in May 2000. Three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe completed the family.

Pausch’s health worsened in mid-2008 and he died from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008, at the age of 47.

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Randy Pausch's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Presidential Young Investigator Award

Randy Pausch biography timelines

  • // 23rd Oct 1960
    Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch was born on October 23, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland to Fred and Virginia Pausch. His father was a lawyer and insurance-company executive while his mother taught English. He had one sister, Tammy.
  • // 1982 To Aug 1988
    He attended the Oakland Mills High School in Columbia following which he enrolled at Brown University to study computer science. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1982. At the advice of his professors, he decided to venture into academics and proceeded to earn his Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University in August 1988.
  • // 1988
    After completing his doctorate in 1988, Randy Pausch accepted a teaching position at the University of Virginia. He worked there for nearly a decade and spent a couple of years on sabbatical during which he worked with the Disney Corp. Working for Disney had been a childhood dream and he would serve as a consultant to the company his entire career.
  • // 1997
    In 1997, he returned to his alma mater Carnegie Mellon University as an Associate Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design. The following year, Pausch collaborated with his colleague Don Marinelli to co-found CMU's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) to teach students interdisciplinary skills in design, art and technology.
  • // 1998 To May 2000
    Randy Pausch first met Jai Glasgow in the fall of 1998 at the University of North Carolina when she was a graduate student in comparative literature and he was giving a guest lecture on virtual reality. He was immediately attracted to her and two started dating. They were married in May 2000. Three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe completed the family.
  • // 2006
    Randy Pausch began experiencing some health problems in mid-2006. After a slew of tests, it was confirmed in September that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He immediately underwent a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading.
  • // 2007
    In 2007, Randy Pausch became the first CMU professor to win the prestigious Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award. The same year, he also received the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.
  • // 2007
    He was also inducted as a Fellow of the ACM in 2007.
  • // Aug 2007
    The procedure, however, was unsuccessful in halting the disease. In August 2007, he was told that the cancer was terminal and was given around three to six months to live.
  • // 18th Sep 2007
    On September 18, 2007, he delivered a lecture titled ‘The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’ at Carnegie Mellon. The lecture was recorded and posted to YouTube where it soon became a viral phenomenon. The lecture received so much attention that he was invited to appear on the popular TV talk show, ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in October where he summarized his ‘Last Lecture.’
  • // 2008
    The international popularity of the lecture led him to co-author a book called ‘The Last Lecture,’ which he wrote alongside Jeffrey Zaslow of the ‘Wall Street Journal.’ The book detailed several of the points he had discussed in the lecture he had given at Carnegie Mellon. The book became a ‘New York Times’ bestseller in 2008, and remained on the list for 112 weeks. Since then, it has been translated into 48 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies in the United States alone.
  • // 2008
    He was named Pittsburgher of the Year 2008.
  • // 25th Jul 2008
    Pausch’s health worsened in mid-2008 and he died from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008, at the age of 47.

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Randy Pausch's FAQ

  • What is Randy Pausch birthday?

    Randy Pausch was born at 1960-10-23

  • When was Randy Pausch died?

    Randy Pausch was died at 2008-07-25

  • Where was Randy Pausch died?

    Randy Pausch was died in Chesapeake

  • Which age was Randy Pausch died?

    Randy Pausch was died at age 47

  • Where is Randy Pausch's birth place?

    Randy Pausch was born in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

  • What is Randy Pausch nationalities?

    Randy Pausch's nationalities is American

  • Who is Randy Pausch spouses?

    Randy Pausch's spouses is Jai Glasgow

  • Who is Randy Pausch childrens?

    Randy Pausch's childrens is Chloe Pausch, Dylan Pausch, Logan Pausch

  • What was Randy Pausch universities?

    Randy Pausch studied at Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University

  • Which company or organization was founded by Randy Pausch?

    Randy Pausch was the founder/co-founder of Entertainment Technology Center

  • What is Randy Pausch's cause of dead?

    Randy Pausch dead because of Cancer

  • What is Randy Pausch's religion?

    Randy Pausch's religion is Unitarian Universalism

  • What is Randy Pausch's sun sign?

    Randy Pausch is Libra

  • How famous is Randy Pausch?

    Randy Pausch is famouse as Motivational Speaker, Educationist, Professor