Celebrating a life of a young Somerset County man who died too soon
His nickname at work was "Bulldog."
Andrew Robert Luteri worked the third shift at Devilbiss Drive. He loved his job there, according to his family. It was a job Luteri worked at since he graduated from Somerset High School in 2020.
Every Thursday at midnight he would scream like a girl, “It’s Friday," according to his coworkers.
Andrew would tell his co-workers all the time, “It’s a good day to ride.”
On Aug. 12 at the age of 21, Andrew died on Luray Avenue in Johnstown as a result of a motorcycle accident. He was the son of Joseph and Heather Luteri, of Somerset, and the brother of Katherine "Kat" Luteri, of Pittsburgh, and Aaron "Butch" Luteri, of Somerset.
He loved to make people smile, laugh
As a jokester, lover of pranks and storyteller, it wasn't hard for Andrew to grab everyone's attention. He could impersonate like a pro and "had lots of funny voices" in his repertoire, his sister said.
His dad thought he could be the next Jay Leno. He told him as much.
"He was a great comedian, (we were) often telling him to go and watch these traveling comedians who came through town and talk with them about how they got started," Joe Luteri said.
He loved kids and animals
Andrew loved his cat, "Itty Bitty," and he loved kids. His mother said he would babysit once a week, right after working his night shift.
A loyal and supportive friend
A new friend and her sister, both of whom just met Andrew recently, shared how he made such an impact on them in the three hours they were with him, Kat Luteri told the Daily American. They told the family they had never met someone like him before and they would never forget him and his contagious smile.
A high school friend told the family how Andrew stood by her side after she got pregnant in high school, and how he showed his support without judgment. She said they would often sit down by the turnpike, close to his home, watch all the cars go by and talk about life.
Andrew also attended her baby shower.
Another friend mentioned that Andrew became her friend at school when others picked on her, and she was so grateful for his friendship.
And when Andrew learned that a friend's mom could not afford to buy a lawn mower, he showed up one day and brought her a lawn mower, Kat said.
He loved his family
When Joe Luteri had triple bypass surgery in 2017, Andrew was by his side to help him recuperate, making sure he took his medicine and walking with him through the yard to help build back his strength.
"He was my house nurse," Joe Luteri said. "He was one of the reasons I recovered so quickly. He was my little man, always there for me in my time of need. I'm proud to be his dad."
Andrew's mom, Heather, said she loved the lighthearted side of her son.
"Andrew always made things fun," she said. "Like when we went to go get our family pictures done last fall, he was throwing leaves up in the air and throwing them at the camera. He had a way of making ordinary, mundane things fun and light."
He even got a macaroni noodle tattoo on his arm to honor his late Italian grandmother, Kat Luteri said.
A friend he met not long ago said that when she met Andrew, the first thing he told her was how much he loved his family and that family was so important to him.
A special sibling bond
Kat said Andrew loved "messing around in the wrestling room before practice and cracking jokes," and was always ready to hug.
"Andrew had beautiful blue eyes that sparkled," she said about one of her favorite things about her brother.
His mother said, " I feel heartbroken for his siblings (Kat and Aaron), they had a special bond that will never be broken. I'm sad for everyone who never got the chance to meet him, because he was a great person and could have changed your life."
A trio, forever
Kat, Andrew and Aaron were more than just siblings, they were "the trio."
"Laughter was his language, and he effortlessly wove humor into the tapestry of our lives," Kat and Aaron said, describing their brother as "a gift."
Andrew's "willingness to give without hesitation, to offer the shirt off his back and extend a helping hand, revealed the depth of his kindness and his innate understanding of the needs of those around him," Kat said.
Their loss and love for their brother has no boundaries in time, she added.
"Though our paths may diverge, the echoes of our trio will forever resonate in our hearts, reminding us of the joyous moments we shared as three siblings. We know that the strength of our connection knows no bounds, and that no matter where life takes us, the cherished memories of our trio will always bind us together."
The family has scheduled a celebration of life for Andrew Luteri at 3 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Hitching Post, 848 Husband Road in Somerset.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Family and friends remember the life of Andrew Luteri of Somerset PA.
