Randy Pausch, a Carnegie-Mellon professor whose "The Last Lecture" inspired millions, passed away on Friday at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia.

As reported by Carnegie-Mellon University, after being told he had only months to live, Pausch delivered what has become know as "The Last Lecture." In it, he discussed achieving one's childhood dreams. Pausch recounted his own efforts to achieve his own dreams, which ranged from wanting to become a professional football player, to experiencing zero gravity.

The lecture became a hit online, showing up on YouTube. Pausch appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and the CBS Evening News. A book version of the lecture, co-written by Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal and an alumnus of Carnegie-Mellon himself, was released earlier this year and became a best-seller.

One of the persons inspired by Pausch was Star Trek XI's J.J. Abrams, who emailed Pausch, a Star Trek fan, and offered him a cameo in Star Trek XI, as recounted on Pausch's website. "This is, by far, the coolest thing (okay, #2 behind the palliative chemo working,) wrote Pausch last autumn after receiving the email. "J.J. Abrams (Hollywood producer/director who did the TV series 'Lost,' the movie 'Mission Impossible III' and a bunch of other stuff) emailed me, out of the blue." Although Pausch thought it was a gag at first, when he realized that it was a genuine offer from Abrams, he hightailed it out to L.A. where he was soon fitted in a Star Trek uniform. "I got a custom-made Star Trek uniform and my own station on the bridge, where I had lots of buttons and controls," wrote Pausch. "I even got a LINE!!!!"

Pausch was forty-seven. He is survived by his wife, Jai, and three children: Chloe, Dylan and Logan.

To read more, head to the article located here. Pausch's blog is located here.

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