The Last Lecture

When Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 46, the Carnegie Mellon professor, husband and father of three, surely did not realize how his diagnosis would eventually take a path that eventually would affect millions of people around the world through his inspirational approach to life, love and death.

What began as a grim, personal diagnosis between patient and physician turned into a “last lecture” in front of 400 Carnegie Mellon students, to an inspirational column by Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Zaslow, to a YouTube sensation, an appearance on Oprah, ABC News and a best-selling book, “The Last Lecture.”

And, by the time Randy Pausch lost his battle with cancer in July 2008, he had touched millions of lives across the globe simply by sharing a message about childhood dreams, but more importantly, a message to his wife and children.

In November, at an event held by the Beaumont Foundation, Zaslow spoke about his relationship with Pausch, the message that is found within the pages of his book, and how Randy’s legacy will continue to touch many people for years to come.

Zaslow, who is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon, received a call from the computer science department at his alma mater inviting him to come hear a lecture by one of their professors who would be giving a “last lecture” – which is a rite of passage that many professors give just before they retire. But, in this case, Pausch was dying.

“I called Randy on the phone the day before the lecture and he was so funny and engaging that I thought I would go,” says Zaslow. “The plane ticket from here (Detroit) was $800, so my editor said to just call (Randy) when it was over, but I found him very funny so I thought I would go check him out.”

The result of Zaslow’s 300-plus drive from Detroit to Pittsburgh turned into one of his columns in the Wall Street Journal and also fostered a new relationship with Pausch. The interest that sprouted from this story gained tremendous momentum, and the suggestion of a book came to light.

“He wasn’t sure if he wanted to do a book because he was dying,” says Zaslow, of Pausch. “And he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it with me because he didn’t know me that well and he said he didn’t want to take the time to do a book.”

However, a plan was put in place and Pausch decided he would speak to Zaslow while riding his bike for exercise each day. What followed was 53 days of Pausch riding his bike, headpiece in place, speaking to Zaslow over the phone, dictating his thoughts for “The Last Lecture.”

“The idea was to complete the book so that it would come out in his lifetime,” says Zaslow. “It came out in April.”

Zaslow believes the interest in Pausch’s story has captivated so many people because his lecture was “authentic.”
“When you are watching it…it’s like you are eaves-dropping,” says Zaslow. “It’s a guy talking to his work family, telling them to go out and do great things…he’s telling them, ‘I love you’ to all of his colleagues and students. So it’s real.”

Zaslow describes that despite Pausch’s grim diagnosis, he was the most alive person in the room when he was giving his lecture. “You can’t watch that video and not think, ‘oh my God, he’s just the greatest.’ So, the book is just a companion piece to the lecture, it’s different, but people just love it. There is something about Randy that just resonates with people.”

The path of the book begins and ends with Pausch on stage. In between, the pages reveal different parts of Randy’s life that molded him into the person he became, the lessons he learned, and the lessons he hoped to  pass on to his children, as well as those who read the book.

Pausch’s kids were 6, 3, and 2 when he passed away. He discusses in his book how he wants his children to be true to themselves in life. He reflects how his terminal diagnosis is not unfair to him; however, he feels it is terribly unfair for his children not to grow up with a father.

Zaslow says his life has changed forever since writing this book. “I have learned of the fragility of life. Just from knowing Randy my life has changed. I was sending him links to all of these websites and the thousands of emails we were receiving, and after sending these things for months and months, I got an email from Randy that said, ‘Will you stop Googling my name and go hug your kids!’”

“So, he knew how to distill everything into meaningful phrases,” says Zaslow.

Writing a book with a dying person would not be an easy venture, and Zaslow says there were moments of uneasiness while talking with Randy. “I knew this was a story of a lifetime, so I knew I wanted to do this more than he wanted to do it. He was dying. He could’ve taken it, or left it. It’s been an honor to tell his story.”

“He had a gift of telling things so that you weren’t thinking about him, you were thinking about yourself,” adds Zaslow. “He was depressed sometimes. He wasn’t a Superman. But he looked at each day and said, ‘how can I make the most of each day?’”

After developing such a close relationship over the months, Zaslow can’t help but miss his old friend.
“I miss that I can’t tell him what is going on today,” Zaslow reflects. “I get emails about him still -everyday.  My last email to him was about 9 days before he died,” Zaslow says. “He really lost interest in everything that was going on toward the end.”

In Pausch’s final days, he was weak, depressed and spent about 20 hours a day in bed, according to Zaslow. However, he was still giving lessons to his kids.
“His son, Dillon, came up to one of Randy’s friends the day after Randy died and said, ‘Is cancer solvable?’  And his friend said, ‘Well, some yes, some no.’ And, his son said, ‘Well my dad taught me that I have it within me to solve problems.’”

The lessons have already taken hold.