RIP: Former Mountaineer Joe Lukaszewski

[asu66]

Sadly, I learned just yesterday that Joe "Luke" Lukaszewski (Appalachian Class of '64, MA '67) passed away on August 14th at his home in Smithfield/Selma, NC. Joe, a native of Elizabeth, NJ, was a "charter member" of Appalachian's intercollegiate soccer program in the early-mid '60s and was one of the team's first legitimate stars. A center forward/midfielder with great quickness, deceptive speed, tremendous balance and a nose for the ball, Joe was a handful to mark by opposing teams. If he got half of a good look or a half-step in his range--the goal was his. Joe was also a hurdler and middle-distance runner for the Appalachian tracksters.

Joe earned his MA in HPER in '67 and was an instructor in Health Education at UNC-G for a number of years before launching a long career as a YMCA administrator. He served as executive director of YMCAs in G'boro, and in both St. Augustine and Fort Walton Beach, FL before retiring and moving back up I-95 to be considerably nearer his Jersey roots without leaving the sunny South that he'd grown to love.

RIP, Luke. You are missed.