Category: High School

It will forever amaze me how Luke made every person feel special – like one of his closest friends. I remember distinctly going to see one of Luke’s shows in CT after I had graduated high school and thinking “I hope Luke has time to say hi,” given how many people he knew would be there (and given that he was literally a star in the show). He ran out to see us and lifted me like he always had through high school, giving us all huge hugs. His warmth and openness was unmatched, he made everyone feel welcome. I hope we can learn from him and pay it forward.

At the end of 2012, Luke attended my daughter’s sweet 16. He and another cast member were able to leave their rehearsal for “Avenue Q” in Rhinebeck a bit early and come down to the party at Locust Grove mid-way through. I think his presence literally amped the party up several notches, and I know Julia appreciated having him there for the candle ceremony. At the end of the night he came up to me and my husband to say good-bye, so sweaty from dancing that he said he did not want to hug us, but of course he did anyway. We talked about his plans for next year. He was so excited to go to Catholic University. He couldn’t wait. He said it was such a great school, and that we should definitely think about it for Julia. In the middle of our conversation another good song came on, and one of the girls dragged him off. “Guess I’m not leaving yet,” he said.

There were a few years at Lourdes where I spent a bit of my time doing publicity for the high school musicals. We did road signs, posters, t-shirts and press releases. Luke made it so easy. He was so photogenic and his charisma leaped off the page. I was able to get a big photo on the front page of the Life section of the Poughkeepsie Journal of Luke in rehearsal for “The Music Man” in 2012. A few weeks later at a school event, he stopped me at and thanked me so much for all the work I did publicizing the show. I was really impressed with his heartfelt sincerity, and his words meant a lot to me.

[posted by Martine]


This is a very simple story, but it’s one I think about often. Every time I see a penny heads up – a lucky penny – I think of Luke. Senior year, I walked past him as he was cleaning out his locker and he was taking out a giant bag of pennies (I can’t even remember why he had them and I’m not sure he could either) and I got excited and asked if I could take one. He laughed at me but handed me one and I walked a few feet away before placing it down heads up. I told him to walk over, and he did, and pick up the penny. I then said “now you have good luck!” He laughed at me again and thought this was the most ridiculous thing, but then handed me the huge bag of pennies saying “here you go, go spread some more luck.” And I actually did place pennies heads up all over the school thanks to him. Amazingly enough, a few days after his passing, I opened a box and found the bag of pennies which I hadn’t seen since I graduated. I now keep them with me, since I’m pretty sure he wants me to keep spreading luck.

[posted by Gina]

Luke was my first friend in high school and became one of my closest and longest lasting friendships. He listened to me complain about boys, even while he rolled his eyes, and knew how to make me laugh when I cried. When I felt alone he included me and made me feel accepted all the time. We talked about everything imaginable and that’s what I miss the most! He always told me the truth and had no problem telling me when I was wrong! One day in particular I remember him telling me to come pick him up from rehearsal and wouldn’t tell me where we were going. I was thinking oh great I’m not prepared for an adventure right now! He had me drive to Wendy’s, bought us each a frosty, and just sat and talked to me for hours. He knew something was wrong and knew I needed a friend at the time and he was fully prepared to listen, give me advice, make me laugh when we were talking too serious, and just be the person I needed the most.

[posted by Gina]

I will never forget the day I met Luke. I was so nervous being at the freshman picnic at Lourdes and I wanted to meet new people so bad. Well I will never forget meeting this loud boy in a pink polo. He walked right up to me and I soon realized we were insanely similar. Loud, goofy, and ridiculous. He was my first new friend in high school. Through the next few weeks we continued to talk all the time, always laughing and always there for each other.

[posted by Luke’s Dad]

When we lived at Maplebrook School for three years when I taught there, Luke had just started high school. The students at Maplebrook were all around the same age as Luke. Both Luke and Spencer became acutely aware very quickly of how blessed they were, and how easy it would have been for their lives to have turned out like the lives of those Maplebrook students. It was a boarding school for severely learning disabled students. They were far from home, far from their families, and often felt very alone. We lived in the boys dorm, and Luke and Spencer both would help the teenage boys with doing some of the things that we all take for granted. They would help them with homework, help them tie their shoes, and teach them how to tie a perfect Windsor Knot in their necktie. There was a sports program there, but there were very few schools to play against and games often went overlooked. One winter, Luke started to notice that basketball games were getting cancelled because they could not find referees to ref the games. The school didn’t pay very much, and refereeing a basketball game for a bunch of learning disabled, Asperger, anger-issue laden kids was not something that evidently appealed to certified referees in the area. So Luke took it upon himself to go to the administration and tell them that he would referee their games. Luke felt that these kids deserved better than that. He also knew that he could supplement his income by refereeing all the home games. They told him that he was not allowed to because he wasn’t certified. So Luke found an online course, taught himself, passed the certification test, bought all the uniforms and gear he needed with his own money, and became a basketball referee. I didn’t even know about his plan until he had passed the test. He did it completely independently. To me, that always had said so much about Luke. He saw a need, and he filled it. He saw an opportunity, and he took it. And there were no more cancelled basketball games at Maplebrook that year (2010).