Maybe "giving up ones life" should not be taken too literally, but instead
as "devoting ones whole life to a single purpose".

I think that Richard Stallman would fit into that category quite well,
he has invested his whole life for improving the situation of free software
all over the world without ever really asking for anything. I admire
that, although I don't agree with him on a technical level.

I always thought that Doug McIlroy was a really interesting character (there
are some ironic myths ( https://code.9front.org/hg/plan9front/fi.../dougfacts ) sorrounding him),
but to boil it down: he was the one who invented pipes.