Farewell to Friends: Dickerson Boatbuilder Thomas Lucke

The Dickerson Owners Association is very saddened to learn about the passing of Dickerson boatbuilder, Tom Lucke, on January 25. Tom, 79, formerly from Oxford, MD, and Winter Haven, FL, attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated from Johns Hopkins University with an engineering degree.

After working for Bill Dickerson to learn the business, in 1967, Tom at the age of 31 purchased Dickerson Boatbuilders, which was then located at Church Creek, MD. He moved the plant to Trappe, MD, in 1968 and operated it there until 1978, when he sold Dickerson Boatbuilders to Ted Reed, bluewater sailor and business man.

Tom brought about the transition of building from wood to fiberglass, solid seaworthy sailing yachts that retained the original classic features initiated by the founder, Dickerson. Many 35-, 36- and 41-foot Dickerson sailing yachts—hailed in ports today—were built by Tom.

I had the privilege of meeting Tom in 2012 when writing the Dickerson History (dickersonowners.org). At the Dickerson Boatbuilders Rendezvous in 2013, he raced my wooden Dickerson Irish Mist that he built in 1969.

Tom is survived by three daughters: Cherie Carroll, Lynn Smith, and Barbara Lucke; stepchildren, Bonnie Meehan, Bo Mullan, Beth Sahley, and James Mullan; and 12 grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for the fall of 2016.

~by Joe Slavin