Robert Lukas Obituary

Robert Jerome “Bob” Lukas, 78, of Milford, CT, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 26, 2025, after a brief illness. Born March 11, 1947 in Milford, he was the eldest child of the late Jerome and Mildred Ann (nee Chernock) Lukas. Bob was a lifelong Milford resident, growing up on the Pond Point Avenue farmland his grandparents, Joseph and Anna (nee Koczan) Lukacovic, established around 1920. He was the last remaining Lukas on Pond Point Avenue and believed to be the last surviving original resident of the same.

Bob developed a strong work ethic early in life as a dedicated son and helper to his parents and siblings. As a boy, he naturally learned to farm the many vegetables and fruit trees on the property and care for animals including pigs, a cow and any dogs and barn cats that made their home there. He was an animal lover and knew how to communicate with them.

The son of an engineer, he enjoyed mechanics, fixing and building things, especially cars. While attending Milford High School, Bob made many close friends who shared these interests. Together, they built and worked on hotrods, including one called the Termite, that they raced on weekends at the Dover Drag Strip in New York. After graduating from Milford High in 1965, Bob continued to collect and build cars, including an anniversary gold 1962 Chevy Impala SS, a white 1962 Chevy Impala and a 1940 Chevy Sedan Delivery. He and his car crew remained close throughout his life and he enjoyed trips to the Englishtown, New Jersey NHRA Summer Nationals.

In 1966, while working as a delivery person at Western Meat Market in Milford center, Bob met the love of his life, Susan, a cashier there who grew up in the Devon borough of Milford. They married in 1969 and by 1973, had two daughters. With the help of family and friends, Bob finished building their house on a piece of the original Lukas farmland they were gifted by his parents. They moved in with their small family in 1974 and he resided there with his wife until his passing.

Bob was a collector of things and embodied the Yankee farmer esthetic in every sense. The house on Pond Point Avenue was well known and recognized for the old cars in the driveway, many tools in the garage and machines in the backyard. Friends and acquaintances would often stop to talk if they saw Bob outside as they drove by. If they didn’t stop, they would beep and he would raise an arm to wave hello, whether or not he knew who it was, as it happened so frequently. A large garden of many
vegetables, strawberries and corn spanned the property behind both his house and that of his parents on Pond Point Avenue, and he maintained it for many years with his father. Building his house and maintaining his property was a source of pride and joyous memories for Bob, his wife and
his children.

Bob’s knowledge and affinity for mechanics, in addition to his degree from the Connecticut School of Electronics in New Haven, led him to begin his career as a salesperson for Gilmart Auto Parts in 1968. Soon after, he became a sales representative for Mayflower Kenworth in Milford, where he worked for over 20 years. Before retiring in 2017, Bob worked briefly for Southern Connecticut Freightliner in Branford and then completed his career with another 20 years at Tri-State Diesel in East Windsor. He was well known in the trucking industry for his expert knowledge and ability to obtain truck parts, and his willingness to go out of his way to help customers. He developed many lasting friendships
with haulers all over the country, who called on him with parts questions and to check in long after he retired.

For all his accomplishments, Bob was happiest with his family and often expressed his pride in his “ladies” to friends and on social media. He was the biggest supporter of the women in his life and all of their endeavors, empowering and encouraging them to be self-sufficient, pursue education and to always speak their minds.

Bob was the beloved husband of Susan (nee Nunno); loving father to daughters Kristin and Kathryn and son in-law Anthony Cocchia; and grandfather to cherished granddaughters Kalyn and Kensye Cocchia. He will be deeply missed, and treasured memories of him and his life of integrity will be his legacy.

Visitation will be Friday, August 1 from 9:00 to 11:00am at Gregory Doyle Funeral Home, 291 Bridgeport Ave., Milford. Mass will follow at 11:30am at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 70 Gulf St., Milford.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any donations be made in Bob’s memory to a charity Bob supported, such as the ASPCA or the Wounded Warrior Project, or a charity of your choice.