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Amb. Alan W. Lukens
1924 - 2019
Amb. Alan W. Lukens
1924 - 2019
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Alan Lukens Obituary
Ambassador Lukens' public service spanned four decades. He was born in Philadelphia and attended Episcopal Academy. He interrupted his university studies at Princeton and served with the 10th Mountain Division and the 20th Armored Division in Europe, where his unit liberated the concentration camp at Dachau. In 2015 the German Government invited Amb. Lukens to return for the 70th anniversary of the liberation and he joined Chancellor Merkel at the podium, representing US troops. Mr. Lukens graduated from Princeton University with honors as part of the class of 1946, finishing in 1948, and he remained active in Princeton alumni affairs his entire life, including serving as class Secretary and President.
Mr. Lukens joined the Foreign Service in 1951 and served for 36 years. He served in Istanbul, Ankara, Martinique, and Paris, then in 1960 he represented the US at independence ceremonies for Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Congo and opened the US Embassy in Brazzaville. He returned to Brazzaville as US Ambassador from 1984-1987. In the intervening years he served in Bangui, Paris, Rabat, as Deputy Chief of Mission in Dakar, Nairobi, and Copenhagen, and Consul General Cape Town. In Washington he ran the Junior Officer Division in the Bureau of Personnel and worked on Western European Affairs.
Amb. Lukens was co-chairman of the Peace Commission of the National Cathedral from 1997-2002. He served as President of DACOR, the retired diplomats foundation and club. He belonged to the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs, the American Foreign Service Association, the Explorers Club, and the Woodrow Wilson House Council. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Chevy Chase Club and President of the American Friends of Turkey.
Amb. Lukens is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susan Atkinson Lukens, and by his four children, Lewis (and Andrea) Lukens, Francie (and Jeff) Bennett, Susie Lukens, and Timothy (and Jenny) Lukens, and ten grandchildren.
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Mark & Jill Talisman
January 15, 2019
Dearest Susie and Kids, we would have been with to say adieu to Alan had we known! Please forgve is we feel terrible!
We are so sorry this day came as we were convinced Alan was forever as always as he gave such comfort with his endless optimism and his perpetual work to make sure all our futures would be bright and sunny!
Being so lucky to know and love all for long we considered a blessing!
From yiur stream of babysitting with devotion and your courage to even come back for more to soirées being treated with your fulsome Embassy residential hospitality and home sweet home warmth we cherished being so close. Thanks to you both for a special friendship for so long . We will miss seeing Alan to be sure but hope we will see you Susie to keep touch. Hopefully the same will be true with many of you as well Lewis,Francie, Susie and Timmy (can't change our dimutive fortify , sorry!)
Your father's long distinguished career was so interwoven in our country'history and is only surpassed to marvel to see how your mother and father nurtured you all to worthy adulthood teaching along thevabout howvto be great parents!
Jim Buck
January 14, 2019
All generations of Bucks join me in extending our condolences over the loss of this great man, a true civilian of the world, who we were fortunate to call friend. Mom (Elia) especially cherishes her most recent note from Tigertown penned in December by this most loyal Princetonian, in which Alan expressed his love and admiration for her and her departed husband (our father and grandfather), Jim 46. Truly among the greats of the Greatest Generation; he never stopped serving his fellow man. I am so glad to have known him for so long. Love, Jim Buck 81 and family
Sharon Gruet
January 10, 2019
Sympathy to the entire family.
Tex Harris
January 10, 2019
An extraordinary fine example of Princeton in the Nation's [and Community's] Service. A leader in every activity he signed up for and there were many. But the tops was being a great friend and colleague. Miss him greatly, Tex Harris
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January 10, 2019
I will very much miss seeing this hero on his walks around the Chevy Chase Club.
S H
January 10, 2019
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your beloved Alan. May you allow the God of all comfort to strengthen you during this most difficult time. He knows the depth of the pain in your hearts. Look to God in prayer. Psalms 145:14,18
January 9, 2019
The Richardson's join in sending our love and heartfelt condolences to Alan's family. We will deeply miss this beloved and most remarkable man.There are so many memories.
His indomitable spirit in the face of adversity. His unwavering love and devotion to family. The extraordinary energy and enthusiasm with which he seized each day. His infectious and often mischievous sense of humor. And not to be forgotten his fundamental commitment to a career of patriotic service to his country. He personified and elevated the ennobling promise: Princeton in the Nation's Service.
He will continue to inspire. We feel privileged and blessed to have had him in our lives.
Bill and Emily Richardson
Dorothea Thorne
Nancy Richardson
Robert Ongodia
January 9, 2019
I am sorry for the loss Ambassador Lukens. May his Soul rest in peace.
Lucy Buxton
January 8, 2019
I am so sorry to hear of this huge loss. He was an extraordinary man who loved his family and friends so dearly.
He also was a man with incomparable energy and drive for life that I can hardly imagine him gone from this world. I see him having a grand time in heaven, so happy and thrilled to see all his many, many friends and family who have been waiting to see him again.
Much love to his family and his countless friends who will greatly feel the absence of this truly amazing man.
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