Michael “Mikey” J. Friedman, 19, passed away last week after a four-and-a-half year battle with a rare, aggressive type of cancer called “desmoplastic small round cell tumor.”

While the Harvard community mourns the loss, Friedman’s family and friends are taking the opportunity to reflect back on his life and remember all the joy that the aspiring oncologist brought into their lives, as well as the impressive legacy he left behind.

The Crimson reports:

Robert B. Schaaf ’11, one of Mikey’s roommates, described how Friedman once printed 50 or 60 copies of a photo that one of their other roommates found embarrassing and taped them to every possible surface in their suite (and put a couple up in Annenberg). On another occasion, he covered a roommate’s room in miniature green army men.

[…] During a remission in 2005, Friedman was granted a request by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Rather than opting for a shopping spree, a meeting with a celebrity, or a trip to Disney World, he used the opportunity to found Mikey’s Way Foundation, a charity that raises money to improve entertainment facilities for children undergoing cancer treatment.

OTR sends its condolences to all of Friedman's family and friends, as well as the entire Harvard community.

Friedman will be remembered for years to come, and his legacy will live on through his foundation, which is dedicated to helping children deal with and battle cancer..