“Cancer, lefty is gone,” the message read.

The four words texted to close friend Chris Bower, marked the beginning of a nine year battle with testicular cancer for Nathan TenClay.

TenClay was diagnosed with testicular cancer during his senior year at Derby High School in 2004. He died last month.

“I had to figure out what ‘lefty’ was but when I did I took it pretty hard,” Bower said. TenClay had surgery to remove his left testicle.

“He got dealt a pretty crappy set of cards,” Delta Gamma alumna Courtney Boote said. “But he handled it probably better than anyone I know could.”

Chris Bower, a close friend of TenClay, said they never thought it could be cancer. TenClay was steadfast from the beginning, he said.

Bower took it rough at first, but eventually he and others took it in stride.

“When he got cancer, about 30 of us shaved our heads – including one of the teachers at Derby,” he said.

Despite multiple surgeries and pain from aggressive chemotherapy, TenClay remained highly involved in his community. He was a Relay for Life captain, served on the Salvation Army Young Professionals Board, and volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

TenClay’s WSU involvement included Phi Delta Theta, Student Ambassador Society, Barton School’s Deans Ambassador president, Interfraternity Council and Omega Honor Society.

“I think he used the time he was given better than some people use a full 90-year life in his 27,” Boote said.

TenClay won Shocktoberfest and Greek Man of the Year, and was one of five males to be named Senior Honor Man in 2009.

“He’s the only person I went to school with that won all three of those,” Phi Delta Theta alumnus Bryan Kissack said. “He really connected with a lot of people.”

TenClay graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s in business administration in 2009. While juggling work, community service and alumni duties after graduation, he also tutored a business student in his spare time, Gamma Epsilon faculty adviser Peggy Ward said.

Nicole Lloyd, Gamma Phi Beta alumna, said TenClay never forgot a face.

“I remember being with him multiple times when he would run into people he hadn’t seen in a while and it was just like they picked up right where they left off,” she said.

Nathan Steele, a Phi Delta Theta alumnus, remembered TenClay being unbelievably selfless during his battle with cancer. He said TenClay’s family mentioned that he “thanked God that he gave him cancer because he had the ability to influence a lot of people.”

TenClay used his battle with cancer to inspire himself and others to focus on the important things in life, Boote said.

Recalling his dry sense of humor, Boote said, “One of us girls was complaining about something completely menial and he looked at all of us and was like ‘at least you don’t have cancer.’”

Sarcasm aside, TenClay’s friends also remembered his undying faith during his battle with cancer.

“He didn’t want any glory for himself in this fight,” Steele said. “He wanted all of it to be because of his faith. That’s what got him through it.”

Steele said TenClay’s character and integrity spoke for itself and “made you want to be a better person.”

“People didn’t just like him, they genuinely loved him,” Kissack said. “At such a young age, to have so many people love him, that was pretty incredible to me.”

Eventually, the cancer spread to his liver and TenClay was diagnosed as terminal during his third round of chemotherapy.

“The last round of chemo almost killed him,” Kissack said. “But we did get another three or four good months with him.”

Being terminally ill didn’t stop TenClay from devoting his time to others and living a full and normal life until the very end.

“The world needs more Nathan TenClay’s,” Ward said.

TenClay was laid to rest Aug. 31 at Hill Crest cemetery in Derby, Ks.

“He was one of the best people I’ve ever met,” Bower said.

A memorial has been set up in his honor with Robin’s Nest Children’s Home. For more information, visit www.robinsnestchildrenshome.org.