On the Death of My Hero

In which John discusses the life and work of Partners in Health cofounder Dr. Paul Farmer, who has just died at the age of 62. Let's make him proud of us.

----

[vlogbrothers]

Hi. Thanks for being here with us. Here are the links mentioned in the video:

Godspeed, Paul. The world will miss you so much. -John

[lev.sin.]

hi, i just want to say that grief is not a linear thing. he has done so much for so many communities, and although he is no longer with us, his impact will outlive him and lives in so many others currently.

edit: the first bit is my own view on grief. it is different for everyone. that's just what i wish someone could've said to me in the early stages of my own grief.

[Roll]

I met Dr. Farmer while I was in college. I have since gone on to make public health my profession. Paul Farmer did amazing work and we all benefit from improving the lives of the most vulnerable among us.

[katieparrish]

This is a loss that I cannot quite wrap my brain around. This doesn’t seem real. Reading Paul Farmer’s work in college is what made me decide to apply to graduate school and become an epidemiologist. There are few people who deserve to be idolized for who they are and the work they did in the way I hope he is remembered. He was a gift to this whole planet.

[HolaMindy]

I think this means that this year's Project For Awesome is a celebration of his life and leadership. Let's raise money for doing hard work with friends.

[aaronbrrrrr]

Everything I know about PIH is because of vlogbrothers. This is beautiful John, thank you. I CAN'T WAIT for the P4A this weekend to celebrate this man and the work he did (and will continue to do, through us)

[varadaagarwal]

"Yes there is something we can do about it". Gave me chills. I hope he finds peace.

[eliannem]

When I shared with my family that Paul Farmer had died, my dad asked if he was one of my inspirations. I said "I want to be him when I grow up". His vision on healthcare is what I try to bring to uni and the hospital every day. Dr. Farmer has inspired a generation of current and future healthcare professionals, myself included. This news is devastating, but I trust that his work will be carried through, because he understood the importance of collaboration and partnership. I'm so sorry for your loss, John, wishing you all the best!

[RedRing-tech]

I remember once being told that we called a person's death a passing, not because they went away, but their life was passed onto their families, and we must carry it on. I'm sure he passed knowing his life, and his life's work, is in good hands.

[gabehockett]

Rest In Peace, Dr. Farmer. You were truly a good man who helped the world.

[JoshBoykinIG]

"What keeps me going is getting to do hard work with friends." Dr. Farmer's work is a testament to the profound impact that dedication, compassion, hard work, and good friends can make on the world...as is the work of this channel and so many causes and creators funded by it. Thank you for sharing your story with us; he will certainly be missed.

May he rest in peace, and may he rest well with so many people like you and Hank working in the spirit of his dedication, compassion, hard work, and good friends.

[codygerard]

Dr. Farmer is one of the rare people who you know left the world better than it was when he came into it and did so much to make it so. His legacy will live on in the hospitals and clinics he established, in the students he taught all around the world, in the healthcare systems he helped build, in the people he inspired and mentored. He will continue to make the world better every day for a very very very long time even though he is no longer in it. There is no better, more meaningful, or more selfless legacy that any of us can hope to leave behind. He was taken from us far too soon, but the things he did and left behind never, ever will be.

[moiradarling]

A man that changed millions of lives and profound ways through healthcare and advocacy. I will never be able to explain how he even changed my own. John I’m sorry for your loss.

[fictionalhuman]

The Man Who Would Cure The World…
I first learned of Dr. Farmer way back in 2006, as a junior AP English student in high school and have only grown to admire him and his work more over the years. The influence he had and all he set in motion will continue to change the lives of so many. I am heartbroken to hear of his early passing.

[natanmaurer]

A beautiful tribute John.

חיים ארוכים

[anitahoffman]

"I don't really know what to say, so I think I'm just going to tell you a story." Every time you do this, John, you break my heart in the best way possible. Thank you for the stories.

[devonlejman]

I am so sorry to hear this news, but I am strangely comforted to know that our community has an opportunity to honor his memory with the P4A this weekend.

[Nrdfightermom]

May his memory be a blessing. We are so lucky that his life was!

[zacharyprice]

I’m terribly sorry to hear of his passing. Best wishes to his family, friends and proteges. Thank you for honouring the memory of a good man.

[sarahlizzieful]

I saw this news and it struck me. My dad passed away last month, aged 63. Dr Farmer did a great deal with his life, made an immeasurable difference to the world and changed so many lives. My dad retired last year and spent his days reading zombie novels and drinking scotch. But it doesn't matter what you do with your years. My dad had a generous heart, an immense capacity for love, and he touched the lives of everyone he met. If I make half the impact that either of these men did in as many years, then I will have lived a good life.