L
LUKE HOYER
uke Thomas Hoyer, lovingly referred to as “Lukey Bear” by his family, was a bright 15-year-old and was known for his reserved attitude. His friends knew him best for his quick-witted personality and different attitudes towards strangers and friends. He was born on Oct. 25, 2002 in Louisville, Colorado to his parents Gena and Tom Hoyer, and is survived by his sister, Abby Hoyer and his brother, Jake Hoyer. Luke was a loving teenager known not only for his vibrant personality but also for his passion for basketball, video games and chicken nuggets. Luke may not have been known by all his classmates, but he certainly left an impact on those who got to know him. Luke, who was known by a majority of his peers for his reserved and quiet behavior when not with close friends, was the absolute epitome of positivity to his friends and family who loved him dearly. Like many others who were lucky enough to have developed a deeper bond with him, close family friend Tyler Gaffney saw the glowing personality beneath Luke’s quiet outer shell. “Although a man of few words, Luke was a truly kind soul that had put others before himself. If you were lucky enough to know him well, you knew of his profound imitation skills; [he was] always joking in good fun,” Gaffney said. Often times, Luke did not have to speak much to have his presence felt. According to his friends, his actions and smile did the talking for him. The young man was always looking to have fun. While he appeared quiet on the surface, building up a hard outer shell and mysterious personality for those he did not know, his friends knew the true Luke who could always make them smile and laugh. “Luke was the king of one-word answers; he would answer his friends with more, but never to adults… He was a very quiet kid but very funny, always had a contagious smile, and it made you feel better when you saw it,” freshman Luke Rothstein said. Luke’s family recounted the comical attempts to get more than a one-wordanswer out of him. In order to get around this obstacle, his family would ask him complicated questions that would warrant a sentence or two, requiring him to elaborate. Social studies teacher Ernie Rospierski was Luke’s favorite teacher. Rospierski, a known comedian to many of his students,
Design by Jacob Brown
on his face, he kept quiet and was a sweet student. In his Spanish class, Luke was active and talkative with his close friends. He was working on a Spanish presentation with his group prior to Valentine’s Day, and was supposed to present it in class a few days later. “He had excellent friends in my class, and he was a happy person, [which is] something I will always remember [of] Luke,” Spanish teacher Lilian Viloria said. “Luke was one of the excellent students in my class, and I miss him a lot. That was the most difficult part, when I come back and don’t see him, with an empty chair.” Viloria also recalls Luke as someone who was passionate for basketball, often talking about the sport with his classmates and planning games with his friends. “He loved his basketball and I could tell that was his passion,” Viloria said. “It was one of the things I know he would probably pursue.” As an avid basketball player, Luke constantly worked towards becoming the best player he could be. He admired Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry, and constantly worked on his three-point shot at Terramar Park in the Parkland Recreation Basketball League to and he would always be considerate of While Luke was not a man of many emulate Curry. words, his tone and speech with the words others’ emotions, taking the time to talk A dual-sport athlete, Luke was a he spoke did leave a mark on those around with friends who needed it. According member of the Parkland youth basketball to Laggan, Luke was always there for him. Many of his friends gushed about league and had plans of playing for the him, describing him as an amazing person her in times of need. He embodied the characteristics of a good friend and made MSD football team beginning in his who touched their lives in a way that no sophomore year. it his mission to cheer her up. one else could. Known as a quiet kid, Luke had a work “No matter what you would talk to him “All the years I spent with him, he had about, he would always be able to respond ethic that would impress even the most to be one of the nicest kids I will ever dedicated of athletes — something that meet. He always knew how to put a smile caringly,” Laggan said. was noticed by everyone, yet Luke never While some students loved video on my face,” St. Thomas Aquinas freshman games, and others were passionate about bragged about it. He was an extremely Sophia Laggan said. dance or running, Luke particularly loved hard worker, but at the same time he Freshman Zach Spiegel recalls one was incredibly humble and easygoing memory of Luke that truly epitomizes his chicken nuggets. His friends and family according to his loved ones. Luke knew knew of Luke’s love for chicken nuggets, personality away from friends. when it was time to go to work and when “In my class we had together, we were and days after his passing, a group of it was time to mess around and have fun. drafting countries for the mock Olympics, his friends, including senior Matthew Although he was a new member of the Horowitz and freshman Stephanie and when it was his turn, he just kept MSD family, Luke will always be an Eagle Horowitz, got together for a meal of laughing and giving one-word answers and in the hearts of other Eagles. His to anything our teacher asked. When our chicken nuggets in his honor. bright demeanor and loving energy will be “We went to BJ’s and ordered chicken teacher asked why, he responded ‘cuz.’ remembered by all who knew him. Luke’s nuggets — something Luke always loved. It was funny; Luke had the whole class zest for chicken nuggets, basketball and laughing, [even though] the teacher didn’t We felt it was a good way to remember him in a positive light, doing something he life is something that will never be taken think it was so funny,” Spiegel said. from the people who remember him. truly enjoyed,” Matthew Horowitz said. His immense kindness and loyalty This world was blessed with Luke’s In school, Luke was involved in DECA were accompanied by his sharp sense of presence, and the MSD family will never humor. His dry and witty comments never and posthumously received an honorary forget his smile nor the profound impact scholarship. His DECA teacher Lisa failed to make those around him burst he had on the lives of those who knew Webster had only kind words to explain into laughter, and he would often enjoy him. Story by Tyler Avron and Christy Ma; his presence in her classroom. She laughing along with them. photos courtesy of Gena Hoyer expalined that Luke always had a smile “Luke liked laughing, and that’s how explained that Luke had impacted his life while a student in his class. He recalls a life lesson he learned from Luke from his time teaching him. “One thing I’ll always remember and learn from him is to appreciate my friends and not let anything get in the way of them knowing,” Rospierski said. “He was a special kid no doubt.” Luke experienced this method firsthand, as him and Rospierski shared a close personal bond. Rospierski remembers the quiet but evident presence Luke brought in any room he was in. His fondest memories of Luke include his incredibly positive attitude and heartwarming smile. “I think about Luke now, and I can just see his goofy smile,” Rospierski said. “On the outside he’s like your typical freshman high school boy; [he] loves chicken nuggets, talking to his friends and [playing] sports.”
“
we want to remember him,” Luke’s father Tom Hoyer said. “There is no way to overcome the pain, but laughing helps. If you see us around, it’s okay to laugh with us. We remember Luke that way.” Luke brought happiness wherever he went, and those around Luke knew of his radiant smile. His character never failed to lift the spirits of those around him. “Although he was quiet and unassuming, he had a big presence. He was always ready for a good laugh and he really knew how to make everyone around him smile,” Luke’s sister Abby Hoyer said. Even in his pictures, Luke can always be found grinning and posing with his thumbs up, exemplifying the optimism and positivity that radiated from his presence. When he wasn’t cracking jokes, he was always engaging in conversations with his friends. He was a great listener,
He was a very quiet kid but very funny, always had a contagious smile, and it made you feel better when you saw it.
”
In Memoriam • Luke Hoyer 13
