Luke J. Haran, Jr.
Died October 7, 2014
Luke prepared for Yale at Berkshire School, Sheffield, MA, resided in Silliman and majored in Latin American studies. He was active in Silliman dramatics and sports as well as the Ivy Network, Dwight Hall tutoring, the Furniture Agency and St. Thomas More House. His Yale summers were spent doing humanitarian projects in Mexico, which led to a career focused on Latin America.
After Yale Luke served for two years in the U.S. Coast Guard and then earned an M.B.A. from Stanford in 1970. He worked at Lehman Brothers from 1971-74 and Merrill Lynch from 1974-89, where he served as managing director and head of Latin American Investment Banking. Later, Luke was a partner of Prospect Street Investment Management, president of Serfin Securities S.A., and managing director of Citicorp Cross Border Finance Group.
Luke was recently named winner of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor the Berkshire School confers upon its graduates. The sixth member of Berkshire School’s Class of 1961 to win this award, he was cited for his long service to the school as a trustee, class agent, capital campaign committee member, Advisory Board member and reunion committee chair. Luke was also an active participant in the establishment of the Class of 1961 John F. Godman Fund, the Class of 1961 Edward H. Hunt Scholarship Fund, and, last year, the Luke J. and Lynda M. Haran Scholarship. 
In retirement Luke focused on his intellectual interests in history and politics. Family activities included regular visits to Santa Fe, NM, his wife Lynda’s home, and ski trips to Canada and Colorado with friends and family. Luke also took up golf and soon was organizing fun-filled excursions with friends, including short trips to the Yale course and longer junkets to New Mexico and the Carolinas.
Luke passed away on October 7, 2014 after a long battle with cancer, survived by his wife of 41 years, Lynda Jean Montoya, and son, Devin. He was predeceased by son Ryan in 2008.
Paul Frey remembers: Luke and I were roommates from our first day at Yale, and he has been my best friend ever since. He was a big help during my difficult times at Yale. One description of best friends is you have seen the best and the worst of one another. I know we saw the worst and maybe the best. The result is that even with no interaction for several years, you get to ground zero immediately once together. Absolutely no bullshit. We exchanged the most personal info in complete confidence, and I could always count on an objective and non-judgmental response. Luke is generally remembered at Yale for the continuous loyalty and support of his friends. I have known few with the intellectual honesty to look at issues, both academic and personal, with so little bias. Conversations with Luke always led to a broader and deeper understanding of the subject.
Marshall Hoke remembers: My time at Yale was not always a happy time. Luke was a good friend when I needed one. His volunteer work was also inspirational. I was glad to reconnect with him at our 25th reunion, and to spend some time with him and his family in the years since. Sadly, he succumbed to cancer before he could join us at our 50th. I miss him.
David Haidak remembers: Luke recently died from a very long and heroic battle with cancer. He and I first met in 9th grade at Berkshire School and remained in touch all these years subsequently. We became much closer when one of his sons developed cancer and subsequently died, and then when Luke became afflicted we would talk constantly about therapeutic options; he took full control of his treatment in partnership with his treating physicians and through his titanic efforts prolonged his life comfortably and meaningfully for many years; we also kept active together as prep alumni. Yale has lost an outstanding individual.