Stanley Skoff

Stanley Skoff, of San Diego, CA, age 94, at Silverado Care Facility passed from this life February 5, 2019, to dance once more with his loving wife, Beverly Jane Skoff.  He was born November 14, 1924, in Barton, OH, son of Joseph and Theresa (Zdeshar) Skoff, Sr. A graduate of Bridgeport High, Class of 1942. Member of SNPJ Lodge 562 of Barton. In addition to his parents, and his wife, Beverly (Storms) Skoff, and son, Lloyd Stanley Skoff, he was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Joe Skoff Jr. and Jimmy, and a sister, Rosie. He is survived by his daughter Micki, in Louisiana; step-daughter Pamela, in California, grandchildren, Gavin and Matt; great-grandchildren, Lantz & Landon; a niece, Earlene Dawkins of Pleasant Grove;  2 nephews Joe Skoff III of Barton; and Michael Skoff, in Virginia; great nephews, Joseph Skoff, IV and Bryan, great-niece, Elizabeth, and great-great niece, Lucy; and several cousins.  Private internment at the convenience of the family at Linwood Cemetery, Blaine.  To offer condolences visit wilsonfuneralhomes.com

Stan lived life to its fullest measure, always a story to tell.  He would say” just watch the world around you, keep looking for something unusual and you’ll be surprised what might be around the bend.  You never know where your path will go or what you might find on the way.” When life would throw a curve ball, Pops would say “I’d just muddle my way along”.  To him, “muddle” was the source and design; the composer, artist, and architect that kindled Inspiration, Imagination, Creativity, Innovation.  His was an unassuming teacher, precise, yet, a curiosity to see beyond what was visible. A Grand Engineer’s vision that inspired many and a hallmark for others to believe in their dreams. 

He had a great sense of humor, his witty remarks often rallying into playful banter; an amusingly one-liner or single worded thought.  He that smiles from his heart, is expressive and those that laugh with spirit, lighthearted in their perceptions.  Stan would find a way to get you laughing, as if in one brief moment to say “all will be ok, if you’re ok.”  Family, meant all to Stan, caring, compassionate, and kind.  

A reassuring hug or gentle hand on your shoulder.  Wisdom in unspoken words.  The measure of his character deeply felt in caring for his Mom, at age 95, leaving the farm to live with he and Beverly. My father’s only words, “she brought me into this world that opened every opportunity to give me a good life.  If caring for Mom will make her happy and enjoy her last years with us, it is something I can do she deserves this and more.”

He was an avid fisherman from trout streams to the challenges of reeling in one of the “big ones” when deep sea fishing. In winter there was not a mountain ski slope he did not dare to stop his thrill of coming “down the mountain”.  He loved to travel, a camera waiting for a time to be frozen in that moment the shutter clicked, so many places, almost all around the world her would say with a smile. 

Music was the very heart of my father’s life.  The farmhouse of his youth and young adult years was filled with the songs, waltzes, and polkas.  Stan’s passion was playing drums, and his was a dream of being a drummer like his idol, Gene Krupa. He played drums in the Junior Orchestra and then was with the band at Bridgeport High.  Stan and his brother, Joe at ages 7 and 9 respectively, had a 2 piece band, Joe playing the button box and Stan on drums. All they needed was a bucket base and a mandolin. So, my father told me that he was given a dobro, as a fill-in for the mandolin. Stan like his brother and father, loved to play accordion. His favorite was Frankie Yankovic’s Blue Skirt Waltz. Stan learned the synthesizer organ and would play for hours.  Finding a favorite song, he would compose an arrangement to record.   How Stan loved to dance.  Holding my hands, standing on his feet he showed me how to feel the rhythm of a Waltz, Polka, or Two-step. It was at a dance that Stan met Beverly, their life together was a Dance.  Beautiful it was watching them dance with a flowing grace across any dance floor.

Stan loved trains and would tell stories about the Y&O coal train chugging up the grade. Told me of the time when he was about 10 wondered what it would look like down the smoke stack. He was looking over the edge when the train came out of the tunnel. He said, “didn’t get to see much, just black smoke and a lot of cinders, and I looked black as coal. Guess, day was Lucky when that blast of hot air threw me backwards.”  His love of trains led him into the U.S. Army Transportation Corps with the Railroad.

A WWII veteran, Stan was an Army Corporal with Headquarters & Headquarters Co. of the 710th Railway Grand Division, 1944-1946.  As an Advanced Detachment with the Seventh Service Command at Ft. Snelling, MN, the 710th arrived in Cherbourg, France Aug 27th 1944, 

Pops would tell me of his driving a jeep across the countryside carrying dispatches (orders) to the Engineers/Supervisors of a Sponsoring Engineers Railway Operating Battalion Headquarters. Stan was Awarded a Bronze Star with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for Campaigns “Northern France” (1944) and “Rhineland” (1945).

Coming home from the war, Stan with his brother, Joe, enrolled through the GI Bill into the School for Television in Chicago, Ill.  Stan earned a Diploma as an Audio Engineer receiving his 1st Class FCC License for operating Radio-TV Stations.  He opened a Radio and Television Repair and Sales Center in Brookside.  Then building WHLL as a Radio-TV station, Stan was Chief Engineer and put the station on the AIR at 6pm.

As Engineer, “fix it if it broke down” keep it on the AIR was an open door that led to a lifelong career in television.

Stan had a fascination for cameras and a passion for photography. “Kodak” snapshots on cross country trips from California to the farm in the Ohio hills.  My following Dad’s dream as a nature-landscape photographer, became a Father-Daughter’s shared dream spending an afternoon of photo snaps; cherished moments captured from behind the lens.  Photography became Stan’s lifelong career and mission as a pioneer behind a camera lens producing close-ups for beer commercials, using a camera as “boomwork” for the first baseball game remotes to sky-cams from atop the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego. CBS station KFMB was Innovative, a creative forum that explored beyond studio productions.  Stan ‘s studio camera ventured beyond as part of mobile studio production team for golf tournaments, baseball games, or a Presidential Campaign bus whistle-stop. From the first sky-cams atop the El Cortez Hotel of San Diego harbor to the first remote television weekly series, Zoorama aired at San Diego Zoo.  From Camera man to Technical Director, Pop’s work and vision carried on until he retired from NBC in Anaheim CA as Edit 10 Director. In 1988, Pop’s was a recipient of the prestigious award as Silver Circle Honoree of the Pacific Southwest Regional Chapter from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his lifetime contributions to the television industry.

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