Luka Randić

Even at medical school, Luka Randić stood out. Apart from being taller than many of his fellow students, his apparently carefree demeanour, sense of humour, and engaging grin belied a maturity beyond his years; and his Croatian passport and Californian driving licence hinted at exotic details of his biography which were otherwise only evident on closer acquaintance.

Born in Zagreb on 11 September 1978, Luka, at the age of 13, fled the wars which marked the break-up of former Yugoslavia. Though he was still very young, he cherished his freedom and did not conceive his life as the life of “a refugee.” His adaptability and openness won him acceptance and friends wherever he went. While his father found work in San Jose, California, he and his mother found a new home …