Randy Pausch, co-author of The Last Lecture, which became a bestseller after being published by Hyperion in April, died last Friday. He was 47 and had been battling pancreatic cancer.

A computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, Pausch gave a talk last September modeled on the kind where professors are asked to pretend they are dying and discuss what really matters to them. In Pauch’s case, he was dying, but his talk, called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” focused on “the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment,” as his publisher put it.

The talk and Pausch’s story received amazing attention: he was named Person of the Week on ABC’s World News, appeared on Oprah, among other shows, and when the book was published, Diane Sawyer did an hour-long show about him.

In a statement, Pausch’s co-author, Jeff Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal columnist, said, “Randy had a remarkable ability to reach into his own life and find an anecdote, a funny story, an uplifting memory–and then translate it in ways that resonated deeply with the rest of us. I first saw him move and inspire 400 people at his last lecture. It was astonishing to then watch his message leave that room and touch millions worldwide. As his co-author, it was a great honor to see his love of life from a front-row seat. I’ll miss him.”

His wife, Jai Pausch, said, “I’d like to thank the millions of people who have offered their love, prayers and support. Randy was so happy and proud that the lecture and book inspired parents to revisit their priorities, particularly their relationships with their children. The outpouring of cards and emails really sustained him.”

The family has requested that donations on Pausch’s behalf go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245 or to Carnegie Mellon’s Randy Pausch Memorial Fund.

(Thanks to Shelf-Awareness.com for this notice)