LISA LUKAS

LUKAS--Lisa G. Lisa G. Lukas, 61, of New York, New York, passed away at her home on July 31, 2025. Lisa was born on December 2, 1963, in White Plains, New York. She was the cherished mother of Brianna Katherine Martin of New York City and Nathaniel Ian Martin, of Renick, West Virginia, and the beloved sister of Lauren Goodsmith of Baltimore, Maryland and David A. Gutschmit of Tarrytown, New York. Lisa grew up in Westchester Country, New York, and attended The Hackley School in Tarrytown. She graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1985 and obtained a Master of Arts in teaching from Monmouth University in 1990. Lisa combined her love of teaching and storytelling with her passion for nature through her 12 years as an environmental educator at Reeves- Reed and Cora Hartshorn Arboretums, dedicated to creating interactive programs connecting people of all ages to the wonders and beauties of the natural world. She embraced the power of nature to heal through her work in horticultural therapy, with studies at the New York Botanical Garden and an internship at NYU Langone Tisch Hospital. She had recently begun to implement this vision as a volunteer at the Blossom Cafe, a respite center for individuals affected by memory issues, in Pleasantville, New York. Lisa, often strolling with her chihuahua, Ava, was a familiar figure in in her West Village neighborhood. She frequently volunteered to tend local gardens and was particularly drawn to the tranquil surroundings of St. Johns in the Village, where a memorial will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, August 21, 2025. While Lisa's sudden passing is an occasion for deepest sorrow, all who knew her felt the glow of warmth, her vivacity, and her infectious smile, and will forever treasure her memory.