On July 3, rising senior, fraternity brother and Washington University undergraduate student Jacques de Villiers, 21, passed away after battling cancer. In the face of illness, de Villiers led an involved and successful life at Wash. U.

According to his friend and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity brother Daniel Sheinbein, de Villiers loved hockey and played on the University’s club team. He had a passion for cooking, and a great sense of humor that kept his friends laughing.

“That was a really important quality about him,” Sheinbein said. “He made everyone laugh. His presence was felt. We were really fortunate to have him in our fraternity.”

Sheinbein and de Villiers joined SAE’s fall 2013 pledge class, where they grew close. Sheinbein said that de Villiers never missed fraternity events and didn’t let his illness stop him from participating. He cared thoroughly for his friends, and constantly checked on their well-being.

When de Villiers first entered Washington University, he had plans to go to medical school. Throughout his years, de Villiers changed his direction of study a few times as he developed interests in areas such as biology, French and film studies, according to his academic adviser Nicole Gore.

Although accommodations were available to help him manage his studies, Gore said de Villiers didn’t feel that he needed them.

“He was not looking for sympathy. I think he was really just looking to be treated and to interact with everyone like a normal college student. He was always very pleasant, had a wonderful attitude,” Gore said. “Even his doctors were recommending that he not stay on campus, but he just wanted to be here.”

“He was an outstanding Wash. U. student. He really exemplified everything that we here in [the College of Arts & Sciences] want to see in a student,” Gore said.

A memorial is being planned to honor de Villiers this fall, according to Sheinbein, as well as an off-campus event in the near future.