Luke Walsh

Luke Walsh, beloved husband, father and “papa”, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016, after a short battle with a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. Luke most recently lived in Concord, NH and Clearwater, Fla. Previously, he lived in Central Islip, NY for 40 years. He was 71. Born January 31, 1945 in Brooklyn, NY, Luke was the eighth of Michael and Marion (Boyle) Walsh’s nine children. Raised by his widowed mother, with significant help from his older brothers and sisters, Luke grew up knowing the value of hard work, community, fun, and most of all, family. He graduated from Alexander Hamilton Technical High School, and soon went to work at a foundry in Brooklyn. In 1965, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served three years as a molder on the USS Hunley, a submarine tender, in Scotland, Guam, Charleston, SC and Norfolk, Va. On September 20th, 1968, just three weeks after his discharge from the Navy, he met the love of his life, Barbara Hayes at Club Four in Brooklyn. Despite calling to ask for “Margaret” the next day –and an early misunderstanding with his future mother-in-law that led to him being banished from the house -- Luke and Barbara were engaged within a year. They married on August 29, 1970, the day after Barbara’s 20th birthday. More than 45 years later, they were still each other’s great love and best friend: playing with their grandchildren, visiting with friends and family, traveling the world – and holding hands the whole way. As a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, Luke worked for more than 35 years in the fire alarm/burglar alarm industry as an installer and as a manager. For many years, he took the 5:30 a.m. train into Manhattan, and returned home at 6:30 p.m. Despite the long commutes and long hours, he still made the time and energy for his girls: reading Nancy Drew mysteries to Pamela; picking out baseball cards or mowing the lawn with Barbara. On Saturday mornings, Luke would take his girls with him on his weekly trip to OTB, where they were allowed to each pick a horse in one race. On Sunday mornings, he cooked breakfast for his family and anyone else who happened to show up. Luke and Barbara set a powerful example for their daughters about the importance of hard work. But they also strived to make sure their daughters had opportunities they didn’t: from regular family vacations to living away at college to finding careers that were more than just jobs. In 2000, Barbara and Luke bought a Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop in the South Shore Mall in Bay Shore, which they owned and operated for 5 years. Shortly after they sold the shop, Luke finally found his dream job: taking phone bets at OTB Phone Room in Hauppauge which allowed him to enjoy two of his favorite pastimes: the races and reading. Luke was an incessant reader, devouring mysteries and non-fiction history books. He loved a poker game. Or any type of family game, although his cheating was well known and not particularly well hidden. He loved casinos and spending time at the craps table, preferably one that was hot. Released from the hospital on St. Patrick’s Day, he headed straight for the casino. Luke possessed the Irish gift of gab. Asked any question, for example, about why Heinz Ketchup bottles said 57, he would spin elaborate answers. His daughters eventually learned he made up the stories on the spot – but they suspect some of their friends are still repeating his tales as fact. From Luke and Barbara, their daughters learned by example the true meaning of friendship and charity. They were always quietly there for people in need. And over the years, they repeatedly opened their homes to friends and family – some for a meal, some for months. In 2006, Luke finally had a son, when he welcomed Keith Abboud, into the family. Luke was devoted to his three grandchildren, and, together with Barbara, provided child care to all three in their first years of life. All were blessed by the opportunity to spend so much time with their beloved Papa, who was always happy to crawl around on the floor, push them on the swings, or follow them around a park as they explored. For more than 40 years, he was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Islip Terrace, their small church community “Teams of Our Lady” and American Legion Post 1039 in Central Islip. Luke is survived by his wife Barbara Walsh of Concord, NH and Clearwater, Fla; his daughter, Pamela of Concord, NH; his daughter, Barbara Abboud, and son-in-law, Keith Abboud of Farmingdale, NY; his three grandchildren: Kaitlyn Abboud, his firstborn joy, Alexis Abboud, his devoted birthday twin, and Luke Walsh, his namesake and little buddy; his sister, Mary McCaffery of Brooklyn, NY; brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Josephine Walsh of Central Islip, NY; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Grace Walsh of Islip Terrace, NY; Charles Hennelly of New City, NY, John and Margaret Hayes of Charleston, SC, Richard Hayes of Clearwater, Fla, Dorothy and Leonard Vann of Mineola, NY, Patrick and Patricia Hayes of Clearwater, Fla, and Mary Hayes of Selden, NY. Luke was also the beloved and devoted uncle to 42 nieces and nephews, their spouses, and their dozens of children, grandchildren and many friends and extended family. Luke was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Marion (Boyle) Walsh; his brothers, Thomas, Edward, John and Matthew Walsh; his sisters, Winifred Hennelly and Patricia Walsh; his brothers-in-law, George McCaffery and Lawrence Hayes; his sister-in-law, Rita Walsh; and his nephews, John Hennelly, Michael Hayes and T