Anthony Lucki passed away peacefully in his sleep in Lincoln, MA on July 30, 2024. He battled cancer throughout 2024. Many knew him by Tony Lucki, but he was born Antoni Lucki in Duisburg-Hamborn, Germany on Sept. 9, 1948. Tony's parents were forced to leave their homes in Poland in 1940. His parents worked in forced-labor camps in Germany until the Allies liberated them. Tony entered this world as a refugee in abject poverty. His parents had nothing but the clothes on their backs, a few personal items, his not-even-two-year-old sister, Rosalie Lucki, and now him–a baby. Tony's infancy and early childhood in the refugee camps in the aftermath of World War II were marked by hunger, poverty and disarray. Family friends from the refugee camp sponsored the Luckis to immigrate to the United States. They sailed across the North Atlantic in 1951 on the M.S., General S.D. Sturgis.

With hard work and dedication, Tony truly was able to live the American Dream. Tony often recalled seeing the Statue of Liberty as his first memory. After transiting New York City, Tony arrived in Holyoke, MA. His father found work as a machinist in a paper mill and his mother worked as a seamstress. Tony never forgot the humbleness of his beginnings in America. He became an avid reader and the eternal optimist in the family.

At 21, Tony married Sherry Lucki. Tony graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Western New England University. Shortly after graduating, Tony and Sherry moved to Kentucky. He earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Louisville. Tony and Sherry were married for 25 years and had two sons, Benjamin and Jason. Benjamin followed Tony's path and is an educator in New York City. Jason is a professional pilot. Tony had various teaching roles in the early part of his professional life. He used his foundation in marketing and experience in the classroom to obtain an entry-level position at Houghton Mifflin publishing company in Boston as a copyeditor. It was his spirit of optimism and respect for knowledge that drove him to study and work as hard as he could. Tony ultimately retired as the President and CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing company. Notably, he also served a term as the Chairman of the Association of American Publishers.

Tony married his wife, Donna in 1999. Donna was a loving and devoted wife of 25 years who shared Tony's passion for books and education. They lived together in Longboat Key, FL and Boston, MA until his passing.

Always speaking of the importance of respecting everyone no matter their background, Tony truly lived a life of acceptance and embraced equality.

Tony was predeceased by his parents, Walter Lucki and Olga Lucki, and his brother, Edward Lucki. He is survived by his wife, Donna Lucki; his sons, Jason Lucki and Benjamin Lucki and his wife Janney;
his sister, Rosalie Lucki; and his grandsons, Aiden Lucki and Ethan Lucki.