Jack Hoffman, a 19-year-old freshman and beloved member of the Nebraska community, passed away on Jan. 15. Hoffman had just finished his first semester at UNK, where he majored in political science through UNK’s Kearney Law Opportunities Program.
Sidney Burkinshaw, one of Jack’s friends who is a freshman at UNK and grew up with him, said Jack lived every day to the fullest.
“Jack’s such a go-with-the-flow, free spirit kind of person,” Burkinshaw said. “Even though he had cancer, he was always a ‘live in the moment’ kind of person.”
Hoffman, born on Sept. 26, 2005, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011. As a result, he underwent two brain surgeries within five months to attempt to remove the tumor.
As a Nebraska Cornhusker football fan, Jack was invited by the Nebraska football team to spend the day with Rex Burkhead, former Nebraska running back, before his second surgery. Jack and his family were invited back to the Nebraska stadium in 2013 for their spring game, where he joined players on the field and scored a 69-yard touchdown, shown in a video with over 9 million views.
The touchdown helped raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer and also earned Hoffman a 2013 ESPY award for Best Moment in Sports.
Hoffman also met with former President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
In 2013, Hoffman’s family formed the Team Jack Foundation, which has now raised $12.638 million used for pediatric brain cancer research. On the Team Jack Foundation website, it states the organization’s mission is to raise money to fund impactful childhood brain cancer research and to raise national awareness for the disease.
The summer before his freshman year at UNK, Jack underwent a tumor removal surgery along with radiation and chemo treatments.
Hoffman began his first semester at UNK this fall, where he was a member of the Kearney Law Opportunities Program and Honors Program at UNK, and he also made the dean’s list.
Charles Rowling, director of the Kearney Law Opportunities Program, said he learned a lot from Jack, and that he was a thoughtful and serious student.
“He was always engaged, really thinking deeply about the issues we were discussing,” Rowling said. “He was a great writer. He had a real serious intellect for sure. He was wise beyond his years.”
Hoffman was on the path to law school and was primarily interested in public law. Hoffman also had aspirations of becoming a lawyer and going back to serve his hometown.
“I think at the end of the day the true thing that motivated him was serving his community and helping other people,” Rowling said. “He was, without a doubt, unwavering in his commitment to that, which is really the embodiment of that program (Kearney Law Opportunities Program) and that’s what it’s all about.”
Owen Wroblewski, Hoffman’s roommate during the fall semester, described Jack as humble.
“I know he met with the president and he met all these famous people, and on his wall there were pictures of his family,” Wroblewski said. “None of the stuff that you’d usually brag about. He’s had a lot of accomplishments in his life, and he never bragged about any of that.”
Outside of academics, Jack enjoyed playing sports, being outside and playing different games with friends, including one of his favorites, Just Dance. Burkinshaw said his favorite place to be was on the lake, where he enjoyed riding a personal watercraft.
Wroblewski said Hoffman and his family told him they wanted Jack to have a normal college experience.
“I do think he was grateful for being able to just live a normal college life for a while,” Wroblewski said.
On Jan.15, George Holman, associate vice chancellor of student affairs, sent an email to the students at UNK informing them of Hoffman’s death. The email included information regarding the funeral services, along with multiple mental health resources available for students.
Sam Schroeder, UNK’s student body president, said in a written statement he is proud to have gone to the same institution as Jack Hoffman.
“It’s important to remember Jack as an inspiration for many, but also for his academic excellence and dreams to practice law in rural Nebraska,” Schroeder said.
A candlelight vigil was held on Jan. 31 in memory of Jack, where students came together to honor Jack and his accomplishments.
The vigil was put together by the UNK Honors Program.
Rowling said he thinks most about the community Jack was a part of while at UNK.
“He had friends in the Honors Program, close friends in Kearney Law Opportunities Program,” Rowling said. “In a matter of months, he had developed these really close friendships, and they took care of him, they helped him during his last few months.”
Sidney said she learned from Jack to live every day to the fullest.
“He was always so happy, so full of joy, humor,” Burkinshaw said.
