Luke Steven Andraka (March 1, 1995 - September 27, 2026)

Luke Andraka died from a fall while doing something he loved—being with friends, hiking and climbing in the Sandia Mountains.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Wren. They met and fell in love at Virginia Tech, where Luke earned a degree in electrical engineering.

Luke’s education started at a tender age. He grew up in a household where experimentation and adventure were prized. Wren, on the other hand, was raised by parents who thought roughing it meant staying at a Holiday Inn.

Luke and Wren weren’t exactly made for each other, but they were perfect for each other. Through Luke, Wren learned to climb, bike, kayak, raft, and camp. Through Wren, Luke gained an appreciation for birdwatching, cooking, playing soccer, and watching “Legally Blonde.”

Their wedding was a wild, wonderful adventure. The day before the ceremony included a raft trip with friends and family down the Youghiogheny River. The ceremony took place at the Friends of the Cheat River property along the shore of the Cheat River. It was briefly delayed by a thunderstorm, held in a field, and witnessed by loving guests, most of whom found accommodations in tents. (Wren’s parents booked a hotel room.)

Like the sandhill cranes they watched each fall, Luke and Wren mated for life. Throughout their ten-year romance and two-year marriage, their favorite activity was just being together. Their devotion was absolute. Their love, inspirational.

Luke is survived by his remarkably accomplished parents, Steven Thomas Andraka and Jane Susan Andraka. Jane and Steve were essential parts of Luke’s life, from, as they put it, Luke’s “challenging” childhood to his prosperous and spirited adulthood. They nurtured his early fascination with science and learning. Steve taught Luke how to build and repair houses. Jane taught him the importance of setting and achieving goals. They joined Luke on many far-flung adventures. They were ecstatic when he found and fell in love with Wren.

Luke is survived by his brother, Jack Thomas Andraka. Jack was Luke’s partner in science-lab experiments and competitions from an early age. As kids, they had what some might call a “love-hit” relationship, always heavy on the “love.” As adults, they still teased and tussled, but they found many opportunities to be together, bonding on mountaintops, rivers, and during visits to each other’s homes.

Luke is survived by his grandfather, Romuald K. Andraka, along with 10 aunts and uncles and 20 cousins, each of whom loved the energy Luke brought into a room.

Luke is survived by a host of passionate, energetic, devoted friends. Whether he met you in his hometown, at Virginia Tech, at Sandia Labs, or by chance somewhere in the great outdoors, Luke wanted to count you as a friend. He was richer for having known you, and vice versa.

The pain of losing Luke is nearly unbearable. But we will bear it. After all, Luke set a stellar example of how to live and love fully. He would be happy to see us do the same. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a place he cherished, through Friends of the Cheat, or to the birds who fascinated him, through Audubon.