Janet Matilda Lukes

Janet was born on November 7, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. She had two brothers Bob and Don. Like so many who grew up during the 1920's the depression hit hard and at times they barely had enough food to survive. They were a close Christian family and their father John Guiton was a generous loving soul that continued to help others and they shared whatever they had with those in need during those difficult times. Janet was a very popular student athlete in high school. She was voted President of her junior class and voted MVP of her volleyball team senior year. As a senior she was elected President of the Girls Athletic Association. Her senior year brought about another most significant event in her life she met her future husband Robert Lukes, the Senior class President. They graduated from high school in June 1940 and immediately thereafter she enrolled in the Dyke School of Commerce in Cleveland. After graduation she was hired as an executive assistant in the national advertising firm of Batten, Durstine and Osborne, Inc. On April 1, 1944 Janet married her high school sweetheart Bob Lukes and they moved to Chicago, Ill where Bob began his medical training at Loyola University School of Medicine and Janet found employment at Fairbanks Morse, Inc. Their lives would soon change immensely with the arrival of their first two children Terry and Thomas all within 2 1/2 years. After graduation from medical school Bob and Janet moved back to Cleveland where Bob continued his internship and residency training. In 1951 the now family of 4 with John soon on the way moved to Washington D.C. where they lived for 9 years while Bob was Chief of Hematopathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. In 1952 during the Korean War Bob was called into active duty from the U.S. Army Reserves to take a position as Head of Hematopatholy in Pusan Korea. These of course were extremely challenging times for a young mother raising their three children alone. Somehow they survived those years without the new technology of cell phones and Skype. Their communication was via long hanwritten letters that took weeks to arrive and via tape recordings. In 1962 the Lukes Family made their last move to Arcadia California where Bob became Professor of Pathology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Janet also became very active as a USC faculty wife becoming President of the USC Medical Faculty Wives' Club and a board member of Cares Non Profit Organization at L.A. County USC County Hospital. Janet was most proud to present the check of $5,000.00 for Cares at their 1966 fund raiser . The 1960's and 1970's were exciting times for Janet and Bob with the addition of their last son Robert in 1960 and also through their travels throughout the world. Bob Lukes became internationally reknown for his classification of Hodgkins disease and lectured throughout the world. In 1973 Bob and Janet took a sabbatical from duties at USC and they moved for 6 months to live in Charlwood, England, a small village outside of London. Their youngest son Bob went to the local Catholic school. Again in 1979 Bob and Janet travelled to Great Britain where Bob became Honorary Professor at Glasgow University. Their most enjoyable and relaxing times came with their annual journey to the Muana Kea Beach Hotel in October of each year where for more than 15 years Bob and Janet presented the USC Lukes Lymphoma Conference. Janet was an integral part of this gathering managing participant and organizing activities. Janet used her professional training and organizational skills to keep all of the activities on schedule and all of the more than 100 participants wanting to return next year. After more than 50 years of marriage Bob died in 1986 at the age of 72 after a long illness . I guess a part of Janet died too that day but she was strong and resilient . She continued her work as a pilanthropist, as a driver for Meals on Wheels, as an artist and sculptor, as a pianist, as a member of PEO and as an active member of the Democratic Party. Janet was always so proud of the accomplishments of her 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She was a very generous individual giving support to more than 40 organizations helping the poor, American Indians, and a wide array of environmental causes. In these later years she especially loved her Lake at San Marcos, especially the Swans, Egrets, Blue Herons and Hummingbirds. Janet was a loving, generous beautiful woman that will be missed forever.

Janet Matilda Lukes

November 7, 1921 - January 23, 2015