Randy Pausch, Hero, RIP

Very sad to read that Randy Pausch, who used his illness to teach all of us how to live fuller, more meaningful lives, has passed away.

In May, Dr. Pausch spoke at the Carnegie Mellon University commencement. He said a friend recently told him he was “beating the [Grim] Reaper” because it’s now been nine months since his doctor told him he would die in six.

“But we don’t beat the Reaper by living longer. We beat the Reaper by living well,” said Dr. Pausch, who urged the graduates to find and pursue their passion. He put an exclamation point at the end of his remarks by kissing his wife, Jai, and carrying her off stage.

Mr. Zaslow said the commencement was the last time he saw Dr. Pausch. He recalled that Dr. Pausch was weak enough from his cancer that he had to lie down on a couch before and after his appearance, but as he often did, he mustered his energy for the public appearance, “and he was excited and happy.”

Mr. Zaslow said he had become obsessed with Googling Dr. Pausch’s name each day on the Internet to see how many new Web sites were devoted to him. In an e-mail exchange they had about a month ago, Dr. Pausch “said to me, ‘Will you stop Googling me and go hug your kids?’ So I did.”

We spend a lot of time lionizing some men and demonizing others, and after a while that seems pretty pointless. Those we love, we love because seeing our values reflected in that person somehow validates and burnishes those values and (by extention) us. Those we dislike, we dislike because they don’t conform to our world view, and perhaps even threaten it. “Blah, blah, blah”, we go – on and on.

But…every once in a while, you see a real hero. And there is no need to lionize and no need to demonize. When you see a real hero, you know it. A real hero does not reflect or validate you. He makes you want to be like him.

Rest in Peace, Randy Pausch, hero. May God’s perpetual light shine upon you.

Deacon Greg has more.