Remembering Luke
Our deepest sympathies go out to Luke’s family and all who love him and his sons Nick, Nate and Noah. We’re forever grateful to all who bravely stepped up in search efforts in Wyoming, and we’re incredibly moved by the overwhelming support from the community for Luke’s family and friends.
We will sorely miss Luke as our leader. But we’ll miss him far more as our friend. Everyone who knew Luke came away better for it.
While always a programmer at heart, Luke’s entrepreneurial spirit touched every facet of our business. Everyone here revered him for his personable leadership style and good nature. In his epic all-staff email that promoted all his Nerdery colleagues as his Co-Presidents, he wrote that during the early days of our company he did it all, but now he no longer had to. Always humble, he said that thanks to all of us, his workday now consisted of “Connect Four, meetings, and Connect Three (red chips are wild)”. But everyone knew he could do it all, and we watched him go wherever he was needed most, day-to-day, without ever losing sight of the bigger picture of where he wanted to take the company.
Putting his family first, Luke was in Wyoming vacationing when we last made the 2010 Fast 50 list of fast-growing private companies, but first he had this published exchange with Biz Journal:
Editor Kim Johnson: “Tips for managing and motivating people?”
Luke: “Go beyond just treating employees fairly. Understand their career goals, and work to help them achieve success. Don’t make them earn your trust – give them your trust to make decisions, and stand behind them when they do.”
He said it and meant it and lived it well. Luke believed in giving back to our community, and under his leadership The Nerdery was honored in 2010 with The Quality of Life Award and The Jefferson Award for corporate philanthropy through The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, at which volunteers have so far donated more than a million dollars worth of web development services to 39 nonprofit organizations. Luke called this a good start.
Growing The Nerdery’s capabilities, staff and revenue tells only part of Luke’s success story as a business leader – but it’s not what meant the most to him. Cobbling together a culture and company where likeminded people wanted to work and play with him mattered more. When a programmer dreamed up our now biannual Pentathanerd competition, Luke jumped right into the first Summer Games and promptly won a gold medal playing Boggle. When asked what he was most proud of about The Nerdery, he said “The Nerdery.” When The Nerdery was #1 on Biz Journal’s Great Places to Work list, Luke’s “I-told-you-so!” memo to staff gained wider audience when it appeared on this blog.
When times got tough, Luke stood right up and said so. His emails weren’t as funny those times, but his integrity was in every word. Even as the leader of a privately owned company, he held himself publicly accountable when we faltered, as he did in this blog post.
Beyond all that, Luke was the kind of guy that would wear a tux to work on the day he’d get a pie thrown in his face for the sake of raising money to fight cancer – something worthy of due respect and worth watching over and over again.
Luke’s sense of humor was all-inclusive and never missed an opportunity to laugh loudest at himself. He took it characteristically well when we lampooned him on his fortieth birthday. We wish he’d have had many more.
Whether you knew Luke or not, I hope knowing more about the kind of person he was makes you smile. His humanity can’t help but poke through even the darkest clouds. As brave a face as we try to put on, we’ll not be the same without Luke. But we will honor his legacy, always, and we’ll follow his lead by living up to the example he set for all of us. Thank you for keeping Luke’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
11 Responses to “Remembering Luke”
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malbiniak on November 2nd, 2010
Luke,
I don’t know where you learned how to do this, but you built the world’s best magnet. It attracted some of the most ethical, intelligent, funny, and real people in the world. Thanks for letting me be a part of it. Thanks for the inspiration, and thanks for introducing me to so many incredible people. I owe you one.
Goodnight, 45 Juliet.
-matt
mrsTonak on November 2nd, 2010
One of the fondest memories I have of Luke was the Company Christmas party two years ago. My husband (Matt Tonak–Senior Designer for S.B.) and I were attempting to take a self portrait together, when Luke approached us. Making funny faces and saying funny things to us as usual, Matt and I were cracking up so hard we couldn’t compose ourselves for the picture for a few minutes. The outcome of the photograph turned out to be one of my favorite photos of us of all time–thanks to our genuinely happy expressions thanks to Luke!
http://i56.tinypic.com/ejh753.jpg
Thank you Luke for always making us laugh and being such a warm and welcoming person.
Mark Hurlburt on November 2nd, 2010
Luke’s legacy is a string of people who’s lives he’s touched that will spend the rest of their days aspiring to live up to his example. I’m proud to be part of that group.
We’ve lost a friend, a co-conspirator, an iconoclast, a cheerleader, and a really smart and kind human being.
I’m sad because I miss him, but I’m honored to be surrounded by my fellow co-presidents.
- Mark
Mike Boardley on November 2nd, 2010
Luke made something special. The atmosphere and culture he created at The Nerdery is the heart and soul of this man. When you’re having fun, lending a hand and working as a team, you’re doing what Luke would do.
Take comfort knowing you still get to see and experience Luke Bucklin each day you go to work because as The Nerdery thrives and lives on so will the heart and soul of your beloved friend and leader.
I am thankful for having worked there. I made many friends and still work with some of those friends.
Comfy Chair Consulting would not exist without Luke Bucklin, for that, we are forever grateful.
Thank You Luke. May we meet in Eternity.
davem on November 2nd, 2010
Long Live Luke Bucklin.
Long Live The Nerdery.
mwilliam on November 2nd, 2010
I didn’t know Luke well, but what I did know about him came mostly from his famous early morning (3AM) emails. Going through some of the emails I found this:
“Here at The Nerdery, all we have is our ‘best people.’”
This is exactly what I perceived Luke to be all about; removing titles and trusting and listening to everyone. He always had time to say hi, and even ask how you were doing. The first time this happened, I have to admit I was surprised because I didn’t even know that Luke knew my name. Thanks doesn’t cover what I owe in return for you being you.
Paul Krumrei on November 2nd, 2010
I only worked with Luke for 4 months, but walked away with how much he loved the company and how much he loved the people there.
He will be sadly missed.
lynnkale on November 2nd, 2010
Luke agreed to sponsor me for the Pepper eating contest, but for a payment method, he chose ‘compliments.’ After participating in the contest, here is my conversation with him, suggesting that money would do LLS more good:
(1:11:58 PM) Lynn Kale: Hey Luke, thanks for sponsoring!
(1:12:11 PM) Lynn Kale: I’ll be expecting my $30 in compliments by Wednesday
(1:13:27 PM) Luke Bucklin: You are so very diligent about collecting complements. And, I really like the way that you have given me until Wednesday to work on some. Really, really nice work on that, Lynn. Kudos
(1:14:12 PM) Lynn Kale: Okay, that was worth about $0.30
(1:14:54 PM) Luke Bucklin: Wow, and your math skills! Incredible. It’s an honor to work with you and your mad math skills.
(1:15:18 PM) Lynn Kale: Thank you, I’m looking forward to the next few days
(1:15:23 PM) Luke Bucklin: By the way, I can do this ALL DAY. But, I’m sure you already knew that. since you’re so smart.
(1:16:11 PM) Lynn Kale: at $0.10 a compliment, you might have to…
(1:16:26 PM) Lynn Kale: but then I’d be at the less fun amount of $445.25
(1:16:34 PM) Lynn Kale: not the much more fun $475.25
(1:17:35 PM) Luke Bucklin: I think you are gifted in the craft of “cutting-to-the-chase”. That’s a huge and valuable skill that I am sure will serve you, and all those that are graced with your presence well. I’ll pay the $30.
(1:17:55 PM) Luke Bucklin: And, I’ll try to sprinkle some complements your way from time to time.
(1:18:12 PM) Lynn Kale: Awesome, thanks again! It was totally worth it
(1:18:22 PM) Luke Bucklin:
Brian Hanson on November 2nd, 2010
Some of the fondest memories I have in my entire career involve Luke’s handing out of prizes at the 2 Christmas parties I had the pleasure of attending during my time at Sierra Bravo. I remember distinctly Jane’s warning that Luke had a reputation of always spicing up the evening with fun and laughter, and I was not disappointed. The details of the speech I have retold to at least 10 of my friends, and I see no reason why I won’t retell the stories of the guy and the idea he created in Minneapolis that work can be fun, and employes can be treated like people. I’ll make sure that everyone that knows the name Sierra Bravo knows Luke Bucklin. You’ll always be missed by me, and I’ll make sure that your idea, your name, and the stories I am privy to live on in whatever way I can.
Thank you, Luke, for defining in my mind what is possible in the world, and being a model for the ideal leader. I have no doubt Sierra Bravo, and many peoples lives, would not be what they were without you.
Bye.
mkapanke on November 3rd, 2010
From the staff at the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, we send our condolences to Luke’s immediate family and his family at Sierra Bravo. We did not get to know Luke while doing business with the company; however, we know he had impeccable leadership because it was reflected in the quality of the company’s work and the relationships we built with staff. We are saddened by your loss.
Sincerely,
The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Staff
Anthony Lane on November 3rd, 2010
My condolences and deepest sympathy towards everyone at Nerdery as well as Luke’s family.