The names Randy Pausch, David Dixon and John Challis have been in the news during the past month and are familiar ones to those of us in Western Pennsylvania. The ironic timing of their deaths is not lost on me, however, as I prepare to send my children to another year of school so they can venture into academia to improve their lives.

All three of the men mentioned were incredible teachers, and this is the season each of them lived for.

Pausch and Dixon held doctoral degrees, and Challis graduated from Freedom High School in June. Somehow each had the ability to transcend reading, writing and arithmetic in order to teach us how to live.

To say they will be missed is further underscored by my own selfish desires to find heroes in today's world that is littered with self-righteous, holier-than-thou media darlings who have been blessed beyond words.

Where are the heroes that I can point to so my children can learn what living is about? With the recent deaths of these three, I am lost. Lost for a hero, lost for a good guy, lost for an underdog to cheer for.

By now, everyone knows the story of Pausch, the CMU professor who died last month from pancreatic cancer. He gave his last lecture nearly a year ago, and through the miracle of the Internet, millions of viewers learned from him. They didn't learn about his chosen field of virtual animation, but rather, how to embrace life.

Dixon was a legend in his own right, possessing a cult-like following from students and peers at Slippery Rock University. I was privileged to meet him one time — the Fourth of July this year. And while I was impressed by his ability to handle pyrotechnics in the middle of a field that was blacker than a coal mine, I was more impressed by his ability to put me at ease instantly.

Selfishly, I will miss the chance to develop a lasting relationship with him, as I, too, wanted to become one of his groupies. I wanted to call him a close friend and have him influence my children during their formative years.

Challis fought cancer for two years, and even after the doctors gave him two weeks to live, he fought courageously for six additional weeks. Additionally, he had the chance to teach professional athletes to be thankful for the life they had, not the money they made or their opulent lifestyle.

And guess what: They actually listened! Can you imagine saying something the A-Rod or Derek Jeter and having them take it to heart?

So the heavy heart beating slowly this year certainly aches because my daughter is going to kindergarten and my son is going to first grade. But it aches more because the natural leaders that I look to for guidance are no longer here physically.

But maybe that's the trick. Maybe Pausch, Dixon and Challis recognized their gift to change lives well after they are gone from this Earth. Perhaps the only difference between them and the rest of us is that they were smart enough to listen, look and act in a way that created respect and admiration that few men achieve during long lifetimes, let alone ones cut short by tragedy or sickness.

Knowing what I do about these three heroes, I can confidently say they want each of us, adult and children alike, to have a childlike quality forever: an innocent, almost mischievous smile that says "Go ahead and take a cookie before dinner. No one will know."

So my daughter and son can thank these three leaders for an extra hug, a genuine smile and, oh yeah, an extra cookie in their lunch this year. They will also know the story of these three men, and I will continue to aspire to be more like them. That's the legacy each of them deserves. Do your kids the same favor this year.

Christian Ola, a community columnist for the Butler Eagle, resides in Mars with his wife, son and daughter and can be reached at christianolac@aol.com.