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Vail Daily obituary: Nick Luchycky, 1975-2011

Special to the Daily
obituaries@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado
Nick Luchycky
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Nicholas (Nick) Andrew Luchycky, 36, of Gypsum, passed away peacefully on Dec. 23, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born May 29, 1975, in Ashland, Ohio, the youngest of five children. He spent his young childhood in Ohio, Canaan, Vt., and Santa Fe, N.M., before coming to the valley in fifth grade. Nick enjoyed wrestling and began his life-long music passion while playing in the band at Eagle Valley Middle School. At Eagle Valley High School, he found his passion for art and played baseball, basketball and football. After high school, Nick went on study at Trinidad State Junior College and Mesa State. His love for learning continued throughout his life as he picked up classes to further his career and his love of music. Nick worked for many businesses, most recently as a land surveyor at Archibeque Land Consultants.

One of Nick’s greatest passions was guitar. Not only was he an accomplished player, he also began building guitars, and teaching others how to play. He enjoyed attending concerts of all types of music, loved outdoor activities, rock and ice climbing with his brothers, painting and traveling. He played baseball with the Eagle Valley Merchants, having met Les Paul in New York while traveling with the team.

Upon returning from a trip to Japan in the summer of 2008, Nick was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was immediately sent to Denver awaiting a bone marrow transplant, which was performed in November of that year. He relapsed the following year, was transplanted again and has undergone extensive treatment in hopes of wiping out the cancer. Nick will be best remembered not only for his genuinely kind spirit, but also the strength, courage and commitment he showed throughout his illness. Up until the very end, Nick continued to have a positive attitude.

Nick is survived by his mother, Frederica (Freddi) Luchycky, of Gypsum; three brothers, Patrick, of Gypsum, Matthew(Sandi) and children Stephen and Jessica, of Westminster, and Frederick, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and one sister, Michele, of Gypsum. He is preceded in death by his father, Nicholas (Nick) Luchycky. He also leaves behind cousins Walter Luchycki, of Toronto, and Nikolay Ilyuk, of Las Vegas, and many, many friends who were blessed to have been a part of his life.

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Amazingly optimistic, Nick handled his illness with great courage and hope. We would like to thank the doctors and staff at Colorado Mountain Medical, University of Colorado Hospital, University Physicians, Vail Valley Medical Center, Shaw Regional Cancer Center and Home Care and Hospice of the Valley as well as all of his friends who were such a special part of his journey.

Viewing will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. Friday at Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 934 Gypsum Creek Road in Gypsum. Funeral service will begin at 1:30, followed by interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Gypsum with a potluck reception immediately following at the LDS church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nick’s memory to Vail Valley Charitable Fund or Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation. At a later date, Pazzo’s Restaurant in Eagle will host a celebration of life, where family and friends will gather to share stories and memories and raise money for these two charities, which were very dear to Nick’s heart.


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