1983 – 2014

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Andrew Ryan Tukey, 30, passed away at Lahey Clinic Medical Center after a brief and courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, June 10.

Andy was born in Portland on June 15, 1983, a beloved son of James and Linda Tukey. He had a passion for music, cooking, nature and the outdoors. Andy grew up in Readfield, exploring the backyard stream and fields. During the winters, Andy would build snow forts and use the hills neighboring the house for sledding. In the summer months, Andy could be found playing in his treehouse or at his grandmother’s lake cottage.

He would go on to attend Kents Hill School, before graduating from Maranacook High School. He played the drums and baritone horn, and attended summer music camps and the music program at the University of Maine at Augusta. His calling then turned to cooking and he earned a degree in culinary arts at Southern Maine Community College.

While working in food service at the University of Southern Maine, he met the love of his life, Kim Retus. They both went on to work at St. Joseph’s College, where Andy became the sous chef and Kim the pastry chef. In 2012, Andy’s devotion to his craft and coworkers was recognized when he was awarded employee of the year.

Andy and Kim were together for six years and resided in the home they had built in Naples. They were to be married in September.

Andy was a warm, caring, generous man with a bigger-than-life heart, all of which was expressed through his love of family and friends. His broad personality and humor would bring smiles and even roaring laughter to those around him. Selfless in his ways, Andy would make a point to help anyone down or in need.

A constant in Andy’s life was his love of jazz, funk and soul music. He cherished the wild times on Windy Street and playing the drums with his lifelong friend, Tyler Quist. A talented chef and total foodie, he loved everything culinary from microbrews to authentic Asian cuisine.

Andy also had a deep passion for nature and the outdoors, especially fly-fishing for trout and salmon on the Kennebago, Magalloway and Rapid rivers with his dad and brother. In his spare time, Andy could be found fly-fishing for bass in the ponds and streams around his home in Naples.

Andy is survived by his parents, Jim and Linda Tukey of Readfield; his brother, Daniel Tukey, of Burlington, Vt.; his sister, Haley Fortin and her husband, Scott, nephew, Tommy, and niece, Lauren, of Belgrade; his maternal grandparents, Robert and Janet Thibodeau of Stillwater; his fiancée, Kim Retus, of Naples; his fiancée’s mother, Bettyann Retus, of New Gloucester; his uncle, Rodney Parsons, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his aunt, Linda Day and husband, Darryl, of Millinocket; his uncle, Darold Tukey, of Kingfield; and cousins, Aaron and Brendon Tukey, Brenda and Jack Day and Donald and Miranda Parsons.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandmother, Irene Tukey, formerly of Belgrade.