Richard Martin Lukesh

Richard Martin Lukesh, a resident here since 2017, died peacefully at his home on January 7, 2024. He was 77 years old.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton at 10:30 AM; Monday; January 29, 2024.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment following the Mass.

Rich was predeceased by his parents, Martin and Nelle Lukesh, in January 1999. He is survived by Christine Mooney Lukesh, his loving wife of nearly 52 years; by his beloved son, Matthew Richard (Leigh Breure) of Marion, IA, and “grandtwins” Noah Martin Lukesh and Sophia Eleanor Lukesh; and his cherished daughter, Sarah Lukesh Miller (Edward Miller) of Duluth, GA, as well as Zach, Ben, and Breanna Miller. Also surviving him is his dear nephew, Kristoph Z. Lukesh, of Seattle (Elizabeth Pisano), with whom Rich often enjoyed international travel, including trips to China, Turkey, Greece, Poland, and Russia. He leaves behind several fond nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many close friends from his 35-year career as an educator at River Dell Regional Schools in Bergen County, NJ.

Born in Scranton, PA, and raised in Kingston, PA, Richard was a 1968 graduate of Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and earned two Master’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ.

At River Dell, Mr. Lukesh began as a teacher of English in the late 1960s and later served as English Department Chair, Assistant Principal of River Dell Junior High School, then as principal. He formed a team to implement the school’s transition to River Dell Middle School, which was named a 2001-2002 Star School. After retiring, Richard volunteered with Elks Lodge #2236 in West Milford, NJ and at Mercy Mission in Hardeeville, SC. He also enjoyed continued travel, cooking, gardening, and writing. He published The Cyrenean Prayers in 2009, and two additional books are in the editing stage.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made in Richard’s name, possibly to Tunnel to Towers (https://t2t.org) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give.html). http://t2t.org