Former Chief Justice Doug Luna of the Tlingit-Haida Tribes has passed away at the age of 67. He died peacefully in the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, after a brief hospitalization for heart problems.
Judge Luna instructed on American Indian law procedures and practices at the National Judicial College. The National Judicial College once named him one of the year’s Top 10 Most Inspired Judges.
“Judge Luna was visionary — deeply caring and committed to his community and the cause of justice,” said former Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Z. Smith.
“Doug Luna served as a delegate to Tlingit Haida Central Council for approximately three decades,” said Tlingit Haida Central Council President Ed Thomas. “He served on the executive council and served as one of the first Tlingit Haida Central Council Tribal Judges. ”
After graduating from the University of Washington Law School, Luna entered the corporate and government world.. He was the director of pipeline compliance for the building of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. In 1978, he was appointed as the deputy corporate administrator for The Boeing Company’s Small and Minority Business Program. He authored the model subcontracting plan for all federal contracts for implementing small and minority business programs. The plan became a model for the federal government to judge all other prime contractors.
His heritage was Filipino, American Indian, Russian, and Spanish, and he served many communities. He was a founding member of the Asian American Bar Association and served on organizations such as the Seattle Indian Center, Washington State Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission, InterIm, ID Housing Alliance, and Filipino American National Historical Society.
He was a Eucharistic minister at Immaculate Conception Church and, most recently, was active with St. Matthews Church. Luna is preceded in death by his mother Corinne Monzon Leachand distinguished relatives, including Elizabeth Peratrovich.
Recitation of the rosary will be held at the Columbia Funeral Home on Friday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5 at St. Matthew’s Church (1240 NE 127th St.) in Seattle to be followed by a repast.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to:
Interim Community Development Association
308 6th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98104
(or)
Seattle Indian Center
611 12th Ave. S., Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98144
It was a privilege to know Doug, from high school to seeing him at our reunions. He was a caring,humorous man, dedicated to improving the lives of his fellows…..he will be missed.
What a wonderful human being!!!….so special to those who called him a friend. Doug was also God’s gift to those in his community who needed help and found his hand extended. Heaven has reclaimed one of the best amongst us.
Doug Luna’s life shone brightly as his surname. He will be sorely missed by all he helped transverse the bridges over troubled waters.
Doug was a former classmate of mine at Frankfurt American High School. We stayed in touch through the years at numerous class reunions. He was one of those poeple I looked forward to seeing each time. Always the gentleman…a true reniassance man. Kind, considerate and a wicked sense of humor. I will miss my friend.
Doug has been a pillar in the community. He was my role model in serving for any community organization. I will miss his cool and balanced demeanor.
You will never meet a more humble self deprecating man with a corny sense of humor. But when its time to get serious, he gets down to brass tacks, approaches things with zeal,a strong moral compass and a heart of gold.