LUCAS

PAUL BLESSING

Paul Blessing Lucas, of Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, PA, passed away in his home on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the age of 61. Paul, who was well known as "Luke" to all his family and friends, is survived by his loving wife, Maureen Melinda Lucas (nee Skemp); his mother, Eleanor Leslie Lucas; his beloved children, Magdalena Eleanor, Angelin Melinda, and Brianna Eileen Blessing, and son-in-law Joseph Lane. He will be deeply missed by his siblings, David, John, and Leslie and was predeceased by his faithful father, David Miller Lucas. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, and reared in Fox Chapel, PA, he was a graduate of Shady Side Academy (1984), attended Denison University for his Bachelor's Degree and graduated from Duquesne University with a Master of Physical Therapy (1996). An avid three-sport athlete at Shady Side, where he made lifelong friends, he excelled at football (nicknamed "the Hammer"), wrestling, and lacrosse. Paul loved playing Rugby in college and being a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. After graduating college, he moved to Aspen, CO where he was a ski technician at SportStalker and white water rafting guide at Colorado Riff Raft. There he met his sweetheart, Maureen, and chose his career in Physical Therapy. He practiced in the Pittsburgh area, where as a man of service, he met every patient individually. Paul loved all kinds of fun. He loved planning Pittsburgh-themed activities with his family including Pedal Pittsburgh bike rides, baseball games, free music festivals, historical Fort Ligonier Days, rafting trips to Ohiopyle State Park, and Kennywood Days spent riding the Thunderbolt, Phantom's Revenge, and Racers. He helped each of his girls plan their Pittsburgh projects in school and took pride in sharing his hometown with them. In the summers he loved whipping his kids, nieces and nephews around Chautauqua Lake while they tubed and water skied. And he regularly made pit stops to Boxcar Barney's to get a heaping scoop of "moose poop" ice cream. His kindness and loyalty showed in every action he made and his family was always his underlying motivation in all things. He built a community around him and, while he may not have viewed it as such, he was the center of it. He was extremely proud of his three daughters. His greatest joys included getting his girls up on skis and eventually onto the race course where he passionately cheered Angelin and Brianna on at every race as a true "Ski Dad". He loved attending Magdalena's orchestra concerts while she was in high school and sharing her music with his patients. Above all else, Paul will be remembered as a committed father, loyal friend, and loving husband. Despite the struggles he faced throughout his life, he always thought of others, made people feel welcomed and accepted, smiled easily, and cared deeply for those around him. A visitation will be held at the JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS INC., 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street, Pittsburgh, PA from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. The funeral will be held the following morning, Monday, June 1, at 10:00 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church, 342 Dorseyville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a memorial contribution to Mental Health America (MHA) of Southwestern Pennsylvania or a charity of your choice in memory of Paul Blessing Lucas.

(freyvogelfuneralhome.com)