Internet sensation and true inspiration, Randy Pausch passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 47 on July 25, 2008. 

A popular computer-science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, he delivered his "Last Lecture" on Sept. 18, 2007. It became an Internet sensation, with a global audience charmed by his easy manner and insight, in awe of his complete lack of self-pity. It was as though he already knew more than he should, had dipped a ways into eternity and brought back some pieces for the rest of us to use in whatever ways and for whatever time we can. The end of the lecture, it turned out, was just the beginning.

Link

Related:
Randy Pausch's Home Page
Randy Pausch [wikipedia] - Link
"The Last Lecture" [Amazon] - Link