Man of the year 2002

Henry P. £ucas (£ukasiewicz) was born on February 28, 1929 in Shamokin, PA to Paul Lucas and Alice (Baluta), Polish-American born parents. All of his grandparents migrated from Poland during the latter part of the 1800s.

He graduated from Shamokin H.S. in 1946 and over the following ten years prepared himself for life's journey into adulthood.

In this short period of ten years, he established a small and profitable photography business; became a licensed pilot; earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lymcoming College, Williamsport, PA; received his Juris Doctorate degree from Brooklyn Law School; was admitted to the Bar, established a law practice in the Greenpoint vicinity, and married his lovely wife Rita in 1956.

Henry became an active member in many local Greenpoint organizations and also provided gratis legal services to some, as illustrated by the following: The Incorporation and Corporate Organization of the PFC. John Czachor Post, VWF: The Incorporation and Corporate Organization of Greenpoint American Little League; created the legal structure required for the transfer of the Polish Falcons building on Grand St., Williamsburgh, to the Bedford Mem. Post-American Legion, and for many years acted as legal council to the Greenpoint Volunteer Corps. Almost immediately after his residence in Greenpoint, he was elected advocate for the Fidelity Council #495 - K of C. This followed by his election as deputy Grand Knight and subsequently Grand Knight in the decade of the 60s.

During the early days, he was elected by the Williamsburgh Centrala as the Marshal in the Pulaski Day Parade. The honor was once again bestowed upon him later in life as the Marshal for St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Greenpoint.

Henry was the Vice-President of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Committee and then served as its president for over fifteen years. At. St. Stan's, he was involved in numerous organization; St. Stanislaus B. & M. Soc.; St. Aloysius YMCC; The Holy name Society: The Dramatic Circle and the Ushers Soc.

He is a member of The L.I. Chapter of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; The Pulaski Business & Professional Men's Assoc.; The Pulaski Parade Committee; The Kosciuszko Foundation; The Polish National Alliance & The Association of the Sons of Poland.

With respect to church activity, it should be noted that he was the very first eucharistic minister at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish along with sisters Dulcissima and Marita and also he and his wife Rita, pionieered as the very first lecturers. For six years he served on the Brooklyn Bishop's Pastoral Council (a Committee consisting of twenty-five lay members who rendered advice relative to the 200 plus parishes of the Diocese). He was for over twenty-five years the Executive Member of the Consolidated Democratic Club.

Henry feels especially rewarded in this life over two experiences emanating from his life in Greenpoint. One was when he and his wife Rita were privileged to have an audience with Pope John Paul II in 1991 and again in 1996 along with attendance at a private Mass offered by the Holy Father in the Vatican. The other was that God permitted him to become the longest living Greenpoint resident practicing attorney. He is extremely grateful to the God Lord for allowing him to become the father of Jude; Father in Law to Carmela, and especially thanks to God for little Rita Amanda, who made him a proud Grandfather.