In memory of Luke Therrien

Hi, my name is Zach. I just want to share how impactful Luke was on my life for the short amount of time we spent together. We met through an abroad program in Cadiz, Spain during the summer of 2014. We quickly became great friends. To be honest just writing this is making me cry. Luke was such a personable and nice guy. He was funny, bright, charismatic, and his smile always brightened the room. I admired so much about Luke, and was devastated when Adam broke the news to me. The 3 of us had an incredible experience together, making lifelong memories and enjoying our youth in the Andalusian sun. While Luke and I did not cross paths after Spain, we still chatted every once in a while online. Through Lawrenceville / Hobart, it seemed like I always met people who also knew Luke, and they all had equally great things to see about him. It always spoke to his character and just how great of a friend Luke was to so many. I miss Luke dearly, and think about him often.

I was fortunate enough to meet Luke in Sydney for our semester abroad. I had only heard stories of Luke through JC, but right when we met, we instantly became close. That was my favorite thing about Luke: the moment you started speaking with him, he made you feel like the coolest person in the world. His friendless, intelligence, and genuine interest in your life was unlike anything I’ve experienced with another person.

After months in Australia, we all went together to Bali for spring break, where these pictures were taken.

This was a day I’ll never forget. We paid a Balinese cab driver some amount of money to chauffeur as for the day (despite our brainpower, I’m sure we didn’t do the currency conversion correctly). After a stop for fresh luwak coffee, he brought us to the Uluwatu temples where I spent the day following Luke around like he was my dad. He would point out all the funny looking Buddha statues, stop at the edge of the cliffs to take in the ocean views, and we would laugh at the monkeys stealing tourist’s sunglasses and water bottles. You could see the wonder in his eyes and the genuine excitement for beauty of the island and its temples.

After this tour, we went to a small beach to surf, followed by a fresh fish dinner on the sand. The large Bingtangs (we referred to them as regular size) were flowing and we laughed more than I ever have.

This trip continued for several more days, and after nights out in town and long days lounging by the water, we used up every drop of energy we had (see the last photo). This was one of the greatest weeks of my life and I could not be more grateful to share that with Luke.

Luke will forever hold a place in my heart, and I aspire to live every moment of my life with the same joy and happiness he exuded. I know he is looking down on me every time I go to the beach or turn on a UVA game.

He was always there for me when I needed to talk, and he never said no to a good time. He made an indescribable impression on my life.

I’m sending love to you and your family, and I hope I get the opportunity to meet you one day. Luke is sorely missed, but he will never be forgotten.

I hope this note finds you happy and healthy. I’d like to take this opportunity to share some reflections on my friendship with Luke.

Almost ten years ago this coming Summer, Luke and both of you welcomed me - along with the rest of our Deerfield gang of hooligans - into your home in Montego Bay for an unforgettable week of laughter, fond memories, and my first and only Reggae festival to this date. I’ll admit, as a lanky white boy from New Jersey with a mop of brown hair, I felt a little bit out of my depth at that concert, but Luke was on my hip the entire time, his sole mission to make sure I felt comfortable and shared in the joyousness of the evening. I’m not sure he believed me at the time when I assured him it was the most fun I’d had in years, but I meant it with my entire heart. Still more fondly do I remember everything else we did that week, from sitting on the bow of a speedboat rocketing across the Bay to set anchor at the beach, to watching the cliff divers at Rick’s Cafe. It was a week I’ll never forget so long as I live, and Luke was at the center of every piece of it.

In our years together at Deerfield, Luke was an unfailing source of laughter and light amid the often dreary New England winters. I spent countless hours playing Xbox with him and JC on Johnson 2 our Senior year, and we even got him to join the football team in the end, despite his constant reminders that he was not to be hit too hard in practice on account of his “sweet bones”. To this day I’m not convinced that sweet bones are a genuine medical condition, but I am certain that if anyone had sweetness deep in their bone marrow, it was my friend Luke Therrien.

I wish you all the best, and know that wherever life takes me, I endeavor to carry Luke’s light and his persistent beaming smile along with me.

Much Love, Liam

While at UVA, Luke and I would occasionally play tennis together. Although I was clearly the inferior player—despite having played through high school—I liked to think I could still make things competitive and occasionally apply some pressure.

One afternoon during one of our hour-long sessions, I was particularly inconsistent with my serve, the weakest part of my game. Rather than take the free points I was practically handing him with my double faults, Luke walked over to my side of the court and started helping me. He pointed out subtle but important adjustments that were hard for me to notice on my own: “Toss the ball higher,” “Reach for the ball,” “Don’t fall forward so quickly.”

My serve still isn’t great (no fault of Luke’s!), but I often think back to that moment—how, instead of using the time to snag some bragging rights and a round of Trinity beers (the loser’s punishment), Luke chose patience and encouragement. That small act of kindness, in a simple setting, has stuck with me ever since. It was such a perfect example of who Luke was—generous, humble, and always looking to lift others up.

Luke Therrien was the first person I met at the University of Virginia. I was with my mom and he was with his dad (if memory serves) on campus for orientation. The typical awkwardness you would expect from the start of a first day.

Luke was immediately inviting and outgoing with such facility, such poise. Before we even entered the building and went through the name tag protocol, Luke struck up friendly conversation and told me he was coming from Deerfield, which put me at ease because it’s a school I knew from having grown up in New York. It was a hot and sunny day. To this day whenever I see Luke in my mind, the sun is beating on him and he is soaking it in and then shooting it right back out onto those around him.

The smile with which Luke greeted me as soon as I set foot on our college campus is a smile that guided me through the next years, and today it is one of the most special smiles ingrained in my heart. There was a warmth that exuded from Luke — his eyes, the corners of his mouth, his movements on the dance floor, his words, his Jamaican way about him.

Please excuse the risqué nature of my next memory: I used to comment to my friends on how sexy of a dancer Luke was (ask Spencer). In a total trance he put us all. Once or twice Luke may have humored me with a dance, the gentleman that he was. We bonded over our mutual love of moving to a good rhythm. He was the friend to whom you directed your enthusiasm upon hearing the first bars of a tune that jazzes you up at a party. He always met you right where you were and right where you needed it. Nobody did it better…

I’m still jealous of that boy’s moves ! In fact, they are the only reason I still listen to that Drake album that dropped during our second year of college. Luke dances with me every time, his evergreen smile pasted to his handsome face.

Luke’s joie de vivre lives on, and thank god for it. Thank you for blessing us with the most radiant guy in the universe. Cheers to Luke, who continues to shine his juju on us every moment we live until we see him again.

With all my love and affection, Olivia Peabody

Luke always brought a smile to everyone’s face! This video is one of my favorites with Luke as we welcomed the sunrise with some fireworks!!! He was always the first person to raise his hand for an adventure and to make the most of the day. We woke up lit some fireworks and then went jet skiing. I’ll cherish that amazing day with Luke forever.

It’s challenging to encapsulate who Luke was as a person using only a handful of words. “Kind”, “easygoing”, “fun to be around” - the list of positive traits goes on infinitely, but they fail to truly describe how incredible a person Luke was. Luke had a certain way about him that put people at ease, a kind of magnetism that you could only understand if you’d been lucky enough to meet him. Regardless of the situation or individual, even the smallest interactions left a lasting impression of how genuine and kind he was. Luke’s presence brought so much to those who had the privilege of calling him a friend, and we will forever be grateful to have had him as part of our lives.

Luke was one of the first guys I met when exploring the dorms in my first year at UVA. It was Adam Koeppel that introduced me and my fellow Louisiana friends to Luke, and we quickly formed a group that would spend most of first year together. Luke was always someone I gravitated towards, because of the welcoming personality he possessed. There were so many places and parties that we visited during that first year, trying to find where we fit in and felt the most comfortable, but no matter where I went, I knew that I could walk up to Luke, put my arm around him and check in. And he knew he could do the same. There is one memory that stands out when I think of Luke. It was the last night I spent in dorms before heading back home for our first summer break. I had finished my last exam, it was dark out, and I had just gotten back to my dorm room in Kellogg. A couple floors up from me lived Chester Collins and Avery Gindraux, whose room I would visit frequently for late night catchups and FIFA games. Tonight was no different, as I set my bag down and headed upstairs. It was there that I found them, along with Luke and Matt Lazris. After greeting them all, I figured we would find a party or a place to celebrate our last night there, but I was [thankfully] wrong. Instead, it was decided that we would head down to the Kellogg courtyard, which overlooked most of grounds. There we sat and reminisced under the stars as we looked out over that beautiful place that we all loved. Luke and I recounted all of the stories that had accumulated over our first year, and we laughed for what felt like hours. It turned out to be my favorite night of the year, and probably one of the most memorable nights of my time at UVA. The joy Luke brought to us in these moments was special, and his laugh was so contagious. I’ll never forget this night, and I will never forget Luke.

This was actually from this week 6 years ago… I think it was a Thursday night and he and I were at Elmo finishing dinner and had a discussion or something. it’s like peak 4th year rush, uva hoops is rolling and we’re getting a bunch of shit about going to this discussion- probably from [Spencer]. We walk out the door, Luke sees the sunset, drops his backpack and I think just does “Rexy dude I don’t know man” or something and we bailed and went to Trin haha

Luke and I met our first year and hit it off pretty quickly. By the time he spent a night with me and Chenev in Jamaica for our first-year spring break, we had become fast friends. I’ll never forget his dad driving up to Margaritaville in his boat and Luke swimming over to join us, knowing that three first-years in a sea of fourth-years was significantly more preferable and less daunting than two.

Fast forward to our fourth-year spring and the Wailers were in Charlottesville. A handful of us decided to make the trek downtown. With all the emotions of wrapping up college in full swing, we all piled into the venue. At some point, Luke and I and several others were shoulder to shoulder singing Stir It Up. It was a highlight of my college experience. Luke epitomized everything one looked for in a lifelong friend; kind, caring, funny, and sharp as a tack. Seemingly friends with people across all ranges, he embodied so many characteristics many of us strive for; effortlessly making those around him feel seen and heard.

Jamaica is a place that is near and dear to my heart. My parents got married there, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience many instrumental firsts while spending time there. I have to admit I desperately wanted Luke to be my friend after hearing that he was a born-and-bred Jamaican. Thankfully, he was willing to indulge me. I’ll never forget sitting outside of first-year dorms sharing Vybz Kartel and Konshens songs with one another. I consider myself truly blessed to have been able to call Luke a dear friend. Whenever I’m lucky enough to go back, whether it be flying into MoBay or driving near Bogue, the awesome memories we shared together take hold. I consider myself truly blessed to have been able to call Luke a dear friend.

I met Luke in 2013 when I arrived at Deerfield Academy as a new, repeat junior hockey player from Vermont. From the second I stepped onto Johnson 2, it was clear Luke was someone special—everyone adored him. He wasn’t like the usual “cool” crowd. Luke had this quiet, steady coolness and a genuine ease about him that pulled people in effortlessly.

I’ll never forget one fall afternoon, wandering the halls of Johnson 2, feeling a little adrift. I’d come from South Burlington, Vermont, where I was used to being a big fish in a small pond, and Deerfield’s caliber was overwhelming. Two years before, I’d lost my dad in a tragic accident, and I was still finding my footing. Most students kept their distance from the new hockey kid, but not Luke. I’d settled onto a couch, probably lost in my phone or texting some fleeting high school ex, when Luke popped out from a quick break between FIFA rounds with JC. He didn’t miss a beat—tapped my shoulder and asked if I played. I bluffed and said yes. Soon, I was squeezed onto their couch, fumbling through the game, and for the first time since arriving, I thought, “This place could be home.” That kind of instant, unforced kindness is so rare—especially in high school—and it’s stayed with me ever since.

A few years later, Luke and I both landed at UVA. I’d applied late after a concussion dimmed my hockey plans, and when I got in, Luke was the first to cheer me on. I think nine of us from Deerfield made it there that year, but his excitement for us to share that chapter stood out. Even though we joined different fraternities, our friendship only deepened. We’d drop by each other’s houses, play pick-up basketball, or grab food whenever we could. Luke’s smile could light up a room, and his gift for connecting with anyone—no matter who they were—made him unforgettable. He had this warmth that made being his friend the easiest thing in the world. He loved big and welcomed everyone.

It’s hard to feel like any words can do Luke justice, given how much he meant to so many. Though we’ve never met, your family has been on my mind often these past five years. I always smile when I see Luke’s face in your Instagram posts. Having lost family myself, I know how precious these connections can be, and I hope this note—along with others—brings you a little closer to him. His spirit lives on in his friends and, without question, in all of you. Thank you for raising such an extraordinary person and for letting us share in his light.

Warmly, Chuck Hall