LOVING UNCLE TO LUKE / FILMAKER

John died on June 26, 2016, in Menlo Park after a courageous battle with cancer

John was a masterful storyteller and top-tier uncle. He taught Luke the ins-and-outs of filmmaking, bringing him to set to meet directors and actors.

John was first assistant director to David Lynch and worked worked with him on several films, including the award-winning THE STRAIGHT STORY and MULHOLLAND DRIVE, INLAND EMPIRE (a movie about film-making, in which John appears on screen), as well as MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE, directed by Werner Herzog.

John was also a filmmaker for Apple, traveling the world to film iconic ads seen by millions.

GRANDFATHER TO LUKE / PRINCIPAL / REVEREND

Episcopal Minister, Head of nondenominational Advent School for 30 years, Fulbright Scholar, Oxford Alum, and Army Veteran, Robert lived his life in service of others. He was the Head of School of The Advent School for 30 years, building an elementary school that offered a progressive, integrated education. The Advent school was the first racially integrated school in Boston, created as a direct response to de facto segregation in Boston after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

In the summer of 1963 during the protests for civil rights, Robert and Barbara Day taught at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, an historic African-American college where Robert taught English to freshmen.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared May 5, 1995, Robert C. Day Day in gratitude for Bob's contributions to the city.

GRANDFATHER TO LUKE / ECONOMIST / EDUCATOR

Jack Carlson was a fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force who went on to obtain a PhD and MPA from Harvard University. He then entered a career in public service, holding leadership positions under six U.S. Presidents.

He was appointed by both Republican and Democratic Presidents and Administrations to roles including Assistant Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior: Energy, Minerals and Assistant Secretary to Air Force and Defense.

Jack Carlson was Chairman of the United Nation's Senior Economic Advisers and ran for Senate in 1976.

Luke’s full name is Jack Lucas Carlson in remembrance of Jack Carlson. Jack died on December 7th 1992, and Luke was born exactly 2 years later.

GRANDMOTHER TO LUKE / ACTIVIST

Direct descendant of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in the United States, Barbara Day was a fierce advocate for civil rights. Barbara went to Birmingham, Alabama to protest on behalf of civil rights in the 1960’s and worked with students at Miles college. She imbued her beliefs to her children about championing the rights of all people.

She served on the board of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Children and also helped establish libraries in Massachusetts jails.

She could light up a room with her laughter and was an incredible painter whose work lives on throughout Martha’s Vineyard.

GRANDFATHER TO KRISTEN / PHYSICIAN

Dr. Walter Edward Pleban graduated from the University of Louvain Medical School in Belgium and went on to practice medicine for 40 years. He also served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Walter was also a pioneer who is regarded as being one of the first doctors to use intravenous feeding after it was developed in the late 1970s. Doing so reduced the possibility of of death from post-surgical malnutrition. Injecting nutrients into patients is a widely used practice today.

Clinically Walter dedicated himself to the most difficult of surgical cases such as burn victims, including difficult to heal wounds, and was a constant educator on complex wound management. One of his last professional accomplishments was his role in the establishment of the Bridgeport Hospital Wound Center. He was also instrumental in developing the Connecticut Burn Center.