Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch died Friday at the age of 47 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Pausch became a nationally-recognizable figure in the recent months after his last lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," was viewed by millions of people on YouTube. He then wrote a book, "The Last Lecture," which has been translated into 30 different languages and was mentioned in this month's Champion Magazine. While Pausch has little to do with intercollegiate athletics (although he was a huge sports fan), his inspirational words can and should be applied to everyone's life.

It's amazing that Pausch's messages of living life to the fullest and following one's dreams resonates with so many people. Pausch was idolized by millions for the strength and positive attitude he always displayed despite the unlucky circumstances he was dealt.

As a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon, I can't tell you how many people - some that I hadn't talked to in years - have gone out of their way to ask me if I knew him. While I unfortunately never had the chance to meet him personally, I did have the opportunity to see him speak in May. He unexpectedly made an appearance at my graduation ceremony, delivering a remarkable speech and outshining Al Gore's witty keynote address. After Pausch finished, he exited the stage, carrying his wife Jai in his arms with a smile on his face. That is my last memory of Pausch, and it's probably the way that he would want to be remembered.

I know that Pausch will never be forgotten on the Carnegie Mellon campus, in Pittsburgh or by millions of supporters around the world. I was back in Pittsburgh this weekend for the first time since the graduation ceremony in May and I learned that the school will dedicate a new bridge in his memory: "The Randy Pausch Memorial Footbridge." This bridge will connect the new Bill Gates Computer center with the rest of campus. As the campus moves forward without Pausch, this bridge will serve as a fitting reminder to how the man touched each of our lives, even if we never actually had the pleasure of meeting him.

Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohen wrote about Pausch in an email to the school's alumni: "Perhaps the greatest lesson, however, Randy taught us all was how to live, even in the face of great challenges, and how to follow our passion. While Randy's greatest passion was clearly his family, he did not shy from sharing his passion for his work as a professor, for his students, and for Carnegie Mellon. We will miss Randy, but we will carry the memory of him and all that he did to make Carnegie Mellon a better university and each of us who knew him a better person."

For anyone who hasn't seen Pausch's "Last Lecture," do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to watch it. It could change your perspective on life.