For better or worse, parents are a child's first and most influential teacher of life. It was a job that professor Randy Pausch took seriously.

Dr. Pausch's participation in the "Last Lecture" series at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007 was more than a life changing event for people all over the world, it was a message to his young children on how (and that they could, most definitely!) achieve their dreams.

The hour-long lecture had a bittersweet poignancy because, unlike other speakers who imparted wisdom based on a hypothetical last lecture, Pausch had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Rather than bemoan the fact or feel sorry for himself, ("We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.") the husband and father of three inspired millions (the Youtube version alone has been viewed nearly 4 million times) to live their lives to the fullest.

Wall Street Journal columnist, Jeffery Zaslow was in attendance for Pausch's lecture and the two worked together to share Pausch's thoughts in written form. Pausch was committed to spending every moment he could with his family, but used his hour alone while biking (exercise was crucial to maintaining his health) to speak to Zaslow via cellphone headset, which is how the bestselling The Last Lecture book came to be.

Through the book, and his numerous lectures and television appearances, Randy Pausch gave everyone a blueprint on how to make the most out of life ("Earnest is better than hip") and how face death with dignity.

Randy Pausch died yesterday at the age of 47. He is survived by his wife Jai,and their children Dylan, 6, Logan, 3, and Chloe, 2.

"I want the kids to know what I've always believed in," Pausch had told Zaslow in May, "and all the ways in which I've come to love them."

I don't think Dr. Pausch could have done a better job of letting them know.