[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6276-6277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF LUKE STANTON NACHBAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dimming of a 
great light in our community. Luke Stanton Nachbar was a loving husband 
and father and a vibrant spark for all those around him. He died last 
week of cancer at the young age of 46. His departure tears a hole in 
the fabric of the Monterey Bay Area community that I represent here in 
Congress. While we all recognize the pain and loss felt by his family, 
especially his young children, and wife, we will also feel his loss in 
the public life of many communities.
  I first met Luke in 1996 when he came to my Washington, DC, office as 
a freshly minted

[[Page 6277]]

Monterey Institute of International Studies graduate and returned Peace 
Corps volunteer on a Sea Grant fellowship looking for a job. Lost in 
the mists of time are the exact reasons why we made the mistake of not 
hiring him. But he soon landed a prime position with the office of New 
Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg. That job ultimately led the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to tap him as a specialist in 
Congressional Affairs for the Policy, Planning and Analysis division of 
NOAA's National Ocean Service based in Monterey. In true Luke Nachbar 
fashion, he convinced his management that that he could best accomplish 
the job from Monterey rather than Silver Spring. So Luke was able to 
build a career in national ocean policy while raising his children with 
his wife on the central coast on Monterey Bay.
  Everybody who knew Luke recognized his expansive and cheerful 
personality. He was ever the optimist, which translated professionally 
into an unwavering can do attitude--always an asset when dealing with 
Congress. Personally, his optimism translated into support for the 
Detroit Tigers and love of poker. One could never fail to notice his 
presence in a room. He always made the company around him more 
cheerful.
  The greatest tragedy of Luke's early death is his children's loss of 
their father. Quinn, Flint, and Rainn were the center of Luke's life. 
No words can make up for their loss but I hope they never forget one 
important lesson that Luke epitomized--one person can make a difference 
and make the world a better place. I also want to offer my own personal 
condolences to Luke's wife, Seaberry Nachbar.
  Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in expressing 
gratitude for the public service Luke Nachbar gave to his country and 
community and to share with his family and friends our deep sense of 
loss.

                          ____________________