Edward Michael Lukawski
March 2, 1949 - August 8, 2017
Edward Michael Lukawski, age 68, passed away in San Francisco on August 8, 2017.
Ed was born in Indiana to Edward A. Lukawski and Helen Lukawski. He attended East Chicago Roosevelt High School and was Valedictorian of his graduating class in 1967. He was the Junior class President, a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, an American Legion Boys State Representative, a member of the Letterman Club, National Honor Society and Latin Club, and was selected to play in the North-South Football game. As an outstanding high school athlete, Ed was recruited by Harvard in 1967 as a member of the Class of 1971, playing defensive end on the varsity football team. He also served as an editor on the staff of The Crimson, Harvard’s undergraduate newspaper. As a pre-med student, Ed majored in Biology and earned his Bachelor’s Degree cum laude. Ed was admitted to Harvard Medical School and graduated in 1975. He was Board Certified in Internal Medicine and practiced emergency medicine until 1989 when he took a 90 degree turn into the managed health care sector as Medical Director of medical management and quality of care management for the rest of his professional career, working for organizations that included QualMed, Blue Shield, Alta Bates Medical Group, Mills Peninsula Medical Group, Health Net, Lumetra and Navigant Consulting.
While at Harvard, his classmates bestowed on him the nickname “Easy Ed” to pay tribute to his lowkey, mild-mannered, always gentlemanly personality. Ed was loyal, generous, thoughtful, and caring to his family, friends and coworkers. He loved nature and participating in outdoor activities. He was happiest when organizing family camps at his daughter’s elementary school, leading American river whitewater rafting trips, hiking in Yosemite and the Pinnacles, body surfing and paddle boarding in warm waters, riding his bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, watching solar eclipses and enjoying sunsets.
Ed had called the beautiful city of San Francisco his home since the late 1980’s. His great sense of fun and curiosity fit well into a place that is diverse and vibrant. Among the many activities and events that the city has to offer, Ed enjoyed participating in the San Francisco Friday Night Skate and San Francisco Critical Mass, organizing camp fires at Ocean Beach, roller blading along the Embarcadero, singing sea chantey at Hyde Street Pier, watching the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, attending Opera in the Park and Stern Grove Festival, watching air shows at Fleet Week, and attending artists open studios at Hunters Point Shipyard.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Janny; his daughter Audrey; his five sisters, Kathryn(Mark Nagdeman), Nancy(John Castro), Barbara(Norbert Lyons), Mary(Kim Kessler), Joelen(Dennis Grabelle); his brother Joseph(Vicki Lukawski); his four nephews Ben, Kyle, Joseph Jr., Kevin; and four nieces Veronica, Amanda, Kara and Kristyn. Please contact Janny (janny@lukawski.com) for information about a celebration of Ed’s life. Donations to California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus in Ed’s memory are suggested in lieu of flowers.