Paul Lucas ’94 passed into the Chapter Eternal on August 16, 2025 after years of battling cancer and other complications. Even when fighting through his health conditions, Paul never wavered or lost his faith and enthusiasm or his love for his family, including his Pi Lam family. He faced his mortality with grace, courage, humor and a desire to keep strong connections with his fraternity brothers, and all the people he knew and loved.

Paul was a beloved brother, known by generations of Pi Lams because he was ever-present at Pi Lam and Temple activities. In 35 years he never missed a Kovner Banquet, and he was always “working the room” to make an effort to share time (and drinks) with everyone there. He was a key leader in re-establishing the chapter in 2007. Paul truly lived our motto, “not four years, but a lifetime.” 

Bigger than life

Paul had a “bigger than life” personality, and rarely yielded the spotlight. He relished, and boasted about his college exploits, and we all laughed along at his storytelling. He didn’t do anything in moderation. Everything was to delightful excess. 

Lucas had no volume control, and had an infectious laugh. He loved pictures of himself, and may have invented the “selfie” long before iPhones. Paul gleefully set fires with flaming shots at Around-the World parties. He loved his Mad Dog 20/20 (an appreciation he got from Shawn Battle). 

He ate food in bulk, and most of it came from Costco (he loved Costco as much as life itself), and he may have single-handedly saved the pineapple industry with his fondness of pineapple cocktails.

Lucas was a cornerstone of Pilam’s athletic prowess in the 90s. He played football and softball with a dedicated devotion to win for Pilam. He went head-to-head with alumni at our annual “Gentlemen’s Lust for Blood Football Classics” then tipped beers with them after the game. He was an ardent supporter of Temple sports and returned to campus often to support “T for Temple U” even when we sucked.

He truly loved Pilam and our historic house at 2000 North Broad Street and served as Marshal to take care of it. He jury-rigged what he could with no money to spend, and covered the rest with Barcelona Brown paint. And he fiercely defended Pilam and our brothers, never shying away from fisticuffs “twixt men.” 

Paul served as Rex, and received the Kovner Memorial Award in 1992. 

Paul’s Legacy

There are few who have had Paul’s dedication to Pi Lambda Phi. He is a personified example of our motto. Paul had a close-knit group brothers, sorority friends, and Temple classmates who he made great effort to stay in touch with. He will be remembered fondly by all of us who had the good fortune of knowing him.

Paul is survived by his wife, Vickie and his daughters, Lauren and Grace who bravely supported him through years of his health issues.