More Randy

By Bruce Novak ’71 ScM / January / February 2008
January 29th, 2008

Thank you for the article on Randy Pausch, as well as for all the other informative and inspirational articles you’ve published over the years. The morning after reading that piece, I watched Randy’s entire lecture online, then ordered two DVDs of it, one to give to the high school where I taught until retiring two years ago.

Randy’s mention of Professor of Computer Science Andries van Dam brought back memories. I never had the good fortune to take one of his courses, but in 1970 I remember Chris Braun ’70 and other students who had studied with him speaking of “Andy” with reverence and awe.

Talk about leaving a legacy! If the only student he ever influenced had been Randy Pausch, that would be enough. Professor van Dam must have had a similar effect on generations of computer science students and, through them, on their protégés. Even though he’s not a Brown graduate, perhaps you could do a piece about Professor van Dam some day.

Bruce Novak ’71 ScM

Needham, Mass.

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January / February 2008