On Feb. 1, 2020, Luke Therrien ’15 unexpectedly passed away in Toronto. Therrien was born in Oakville, Ontario, but considered Jamaica his home.
At Deerfield, Therrien was a standout tennis player and served as captain of the boys’ varsity tennis team as a senior. After graduating from the Academy in 2015, he continued his education at the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics and was a member of the St. Elmo fraternity (Delta Phi). In the fall of 2019, he began working for the Uber Eats Corporate office in Toronto as an Account Representative.
In 2011, Therrien and his family founded a charity called Cleats and Stuff Jamaica, which collects and distributes soccer equipment to children across Jamaica. He volunteered extensively for this foundation, creating and maintaining its website and hosting soccer camps.
Associate Dean of Students and History Teacher Rebecca Melvoin recalled, “I first got to know Luke through his friends. Though I didn’t teach Luke until his senior spring, he and his friends would come to hang out and talk about life, which is how I got to know him well.”
Reflecting upon Therrien’s bright personality, Ms. Melvoin said, “He always had a mischievous smile. He loved to goof around and spend time with his friends.”
Photography and Videography Teacher Timothy Trelease, who also taught Therrien, said, “Luke was engaged with the course content of Videography, he worked well with a team of fellow filmmakers, and he produced quality work in my class.”
Mr. Trelease also remembered Therrien for his funny personality, saying, “Luke took his work seriously, but he also had a great sense of humor. We shared many laughs together, as a class.”
Recalling a funny memory of Therrien, Ms. Melvoin said, “One of the girls on my hall was making a video for a class project and he and Ryan Collins volunteered to be in it.” In the video, Therrien and Collins sang along to Promiscuous Girl while students in the background laughed hysterically. “It took multiple takes for them to shoot the video without laughing.” Ms. Melvoin remembered. “That was a snapshot of who Luke was.”
The Deerfield Community extends its deepest condolences to the Therrien Family during this time. The community will always remember him for his bright personality. As Mr. Trelease said, “Luke had an engaging smile, and he had a charismatic presence in the classroom and around campus.”
Ms. Melvoin emphasized, “Luke was always smiling.”