Can’t remember when I first met him. But wow! Do I have the memories. We labeled him the “Wrecker” early on at Trin.’ But he will be remembered more as a Luke the “Builder”… an enormously generous benefactor. More on this later. A fiercely loyal guy… to his alma mater, his friends, his wonderful family. I met his beautiful wife Belinda once. A scrapper. A real “firecracker.” She had to be to keep up with the “Wrecker.” Luther Leonidas Terry Jr. came from good stock. His dad was Surgeon General of the US in ’64. Responsible for the smoking ban. Son Luke would follow him. Distinguish himself in many ways as well.

We, his fraternity brothers have legions of stories, memories we will share. Here are just some of mine. Luke was always an imposing figure. Always greeted me with that unique stare of his. I had the privilege of watching him operate on the Trinity College board. Smart, effective, capable. I was less fortunate serving as blocking dummy for Luke. The best pulling guard Trinity ever saw. “Ouch!!” At AD? Trinity’s best fraternity? Well, there was his car, the “Green Machine”. The gals he dated. Most notable, Ruth. Details unmentionable. The “Wrecker” was always, should we say, well “lubricated” at every party weekend Then there were the road trips. After a number of these, Luther somehow landed on the Bennett College “black list.” No more sweet damsels for you, Mr. Terry. Let’s finally say, no party at AD was successful without a wrecker story or two.

He loved “Fahey.” The now twenty three year gathering of twenty of his frat brothers from AD for bad golf, hilarious fun. Luke wasn’t a golfer. So, he followed us around the course in a cart. Quipping, “nice shot a—hole!” when one of us chunked one. Only downside? He occasionally drove into the wrong spots. In fact, the greenskeeper at The Country Club in Boston is still trying to repair the tire tracks on #4 green! But again, needless to say, no Fahey celebration was complete without him being with us.

In ways, Luke Terry was a contradiction. Wild, even a little crazy? But as I said before, a builder. A successful businessman. Huge benefactor. Deerfield, Trinity… it’s record breaking squash program all benefited from his generosity. He and Belinda even “parented” the squash team members for a number of years. Luke was best man in legendary coach Paul Assaiante’s wedding! When AD was having financial problems, he stepped in to support. Word has it that one Saturday he was even seen mowing the grass on AD’s front lawn. On the occasion of our 55th college reunion, Luke was named the Class of ’67 “Trin’ Man.” Honoring, the single graduate of our class who through his personal success, commitment and financial support has had the most influence on Trinity. It was no surprise he was one of a few distinguished alumni inducted into the prestigious Trinity College “Wall of Honor”

I could go on and on. But I’ll leave that to all Luke’s great friends and our other fraternity brothers. We will gather in Philadelphia this October for Fahey Cup XXIII, and I assure you the conversation will be loaded with “Wrecker” stories. Laughter galore. Celebrating the life of one unique, legendary character. We all loved Luke. Belinda, It was so easy to do so

God Bless him, Belinda, and Little Luke …