Luther “Luke” Leonidas Terry, Jr. of Vero Beach, FL, passed away in his home on Saturday, August 3, surrounded by his family and the constant eye of the family labrador Kensington. Born March 22, 1945, in Baltimore, MD, he was the second of three children of Luther L. Terry and Janet (Reynolds) Terry. He grew up in Rockville, MD, and followed his cousin Richard Timms to Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, class of 1963, where he played football and baseball and made lifelong friends. He would attend Trinity College in Hartford, CT, class of ‘67, where he earned a BA in History, played football and lacrosse, and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He would later serve both Deerfield and Trinity as a proud member of their Boards of Trustees.
During his first year at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he would later earn his MBA, Luke enlisted in the US Army. After receiving an officer’s commission, he tackled and completed several of the Army’s most arduous schools: Airborne, Ranger, and the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning a Green Beret. Initially stationed in Bad Tolz, West Germany, he deployed numerous times throughout Europe. Returning to the USA, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves. Later, as a Major, when his career took him to London, the Army asked him to serve as a liaison officer with the British Para Regiment. Among his many awards and decorations, he was most proud of his Master Parachute Wings and his Ranger and Special Forces tabs. Decorations included The Soldiers Medal (our country’s highest valor award in peacetime), The Meritorious Service Medal, and The Army Achievement Medal. Other awards included British, German, and French jump wings. Upon returning to Philadelphia from Germany, Luke finished his MBA and joined the firm White Weld & Co, which in turn became The First Boston Corporation, CSFirst Boston, CSFB, and lastly, Credit Suisse. Luke started out in the Fixed Income Department, working in New York, Philadelphia, London, and Singapore. When he returned to London, the place he considered home for many years, his retiring boss put him in charge of the firm’s move to Canary Wharf. He would spend the rest of his career as Managing Director heading the Corporate Services Department. Whilst moving the firm’s NY headquarters to Eleven Madison Avenue, he met his wife, Belinda Walker, and they returned to his home in London in 1997, welcoming their son, Luther L. Terry III, in 2000. After the events of September 11, Luke and his family returned to the United States and moved to Bedford Hills, NY, where they would remain until his retirement. They subsequently relocated to the John’s Island Community in Vero Beach.
Luke is predeceased by his brother, Michael Durham Terry, and their parents, Luther L. Terry, MD, and Beryl (Janet) Reynolds Terry. Luke is survived by his devoted wife Belinda, son Luther III, his sister Janet Terry Kollock, brother-in-law David P. Kollock, sister-in-law Joan B. Terry, Nephews Alexander Kollock and Luther D. Terry, Nieces Paige T. Kollock and Agnes T. Quiggle, three great nephews Murphy & Leonidas Quiggle and Alexander Fakih, two great nieces Madeleine Kollock and Sophie T. Fakih, and Remedy’s Longpine Lady Kensington (Kensie).
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Luke’s memory can be made to any of the following:
Deerfield Academy – https://deerfield.edu/alumni/give/make-a-gift
Trinity College – https://www.trincoll.edu/
VNA Hospice – https://vnatc.org/waystogive/memorials-and-honorariums/
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 1:00 PM at St. Matthew’s Church, 382 Cantitoe Street, Bedford, NY 10506.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 22, from 5:00-7:00 PM at John’s Island Club, 3 John’s Island Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963