Jeffrey Mikeska, a 25-year-old former Daily Texan cartoonist and UT alumnus who died last week, was buried Monday.
Mikeska lost a battle with squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer that he was diagnosed with in 2006.
“He was very optimistic and very determined to live a normal life,” said his mother, Mary Mikeska.
Following his graduation from the LBJ Science Academy, he started college at UT in 2002. Mikeska graduated in 2008 with bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering and biology.
He received the Mike Wacker Award in 2007, which honors hardworking students who face adversity while attending the University. During his time at UT, Mikesa received treatment for multiple tumors.
Mary Mikeska said her son had planned to attend graduate school and had applied to as many as eight different schools for aerospace engineering or biology.
She said her son was “very proud to be a UT student.” Following the burial Monday, “The Eyes of Texas” was played to honor his time as a UT student.
Mikeska said her son was also “very proud that his cartoon was in The Daily Texan.”
“I know that he really loved doing the comic strips,” she said.
Mikeska started drawing“Rocket Surgeon” in 2006 under then-Comics Editor Joseph Devens.
“He was incredibly talented,” Devens said. “His comics were incredibly inventive and unique. His skills as a comedy writer were great by any standard.”
Devens said he enjoyed his time working with Mikeska during their two years together and knew him outside of the Texan.
“He always went to my parties,” Devens said. “He was always friendly and warm. And he was always making jokes.”
