Everett was born and raised in Dover, NJ. Son of Thelma Louis, an elementary school teacher and Everett Dennis Sr, manager at PSE&G and Dover Fire Chief. He excelled in academics, football, and baseball so much so, that he obtained an appointment to The United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1967. He would marry his sweetheart Margaret Eileen Taddei from the Bronx, NY on June 22, 1968 in a beautiful ceremony at the Cadet Chapel. Following Army Ranger School, Everett would deploy to Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne Division. Many of his close friends and West Point classmates would not come home. After the war, he was stationed in Germany as Battery Commander with the 8th Infantry Division then returned to the US to earn a Masters Degree in Operations Research at Georgia Tech. Two more schools would follow: Command and General Staff College and Field Artillery Advanced School.
Transitioning to the Army National Guard, Everett’s engineering, communications, and combat experience would be in high demand in NJ where he was employed by many of the top government contractors at Ft. Monmouth. Notably, he headed the interoperability auto-communications systems that seamlessly integrated the disparate networks of all branches of the military. Striking out on his own with Lucas Engineering Consulting Corporation, Everett would be kept busy with a multitude of government contracts for nearly a decade until his retirement.
In his private life, Everett served as President of the West Point Society and more recently he was elected as Eatontown Borough Councilman.
Known for his affable charm and welcoming smile, Everett was quick to make conversation with any stranger. He loved to sing and was featured on the Ed Sullivan Show twice with the West Point Glee Club. A passionate animal lover, he and Margaret would rescue many cats from the ASPCA. Every squirrel, bird, and deer in Eatontown knew they could find full bowls of food at the Lucas residence. An inherent sports enthusiast, he would help coach his kids’ soccer and baseball teams, never missing a game. And he would travel the world dozens of times with his best travel partner, the love of his life for 51 years, Margaret “Mag”. Everett made a lasting impression on everyone who knew him and will be missed by many including his West Point classmates, childhood friends from Dover with whom he diligently remained in touch, and the broader community of Eatontown. Everett loved his country, serving it with distinction for 28 years. Retiring with the rank of Full Colonel he exemplified the West Point motto “Duty, Honor, Country”. Above all he adored his family.
Everett was predeceased by his wife of 51 years Margaret Eileen Lucas and is survived by his son Chris Lucas of Red Bank, Nicole Lucas of Eatontown, and 3 grandchildren: Alex, Emma, and Ingrid.
A service will be held on Saturday Aug 5 @ 11am at the United Methodist Church in Red Bank followed by a reception at the Red Bank Hook & Ladder Firehouse at 9 Mechanic St