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Carl Robert Skeris
Carl Robert Skeris of Remsenburg died peacefully on September 12, surrounded by his family. He was 90.
He was born on March 21, 1934, in Rockville Center, the first of three sons born to Gustave and Adelaide Skeris.
He spent his childhood in Lynbrook, graduating from Lynbrook High School and from SUNY Farmingdale, before joining the U.S. Army. He served his country stationed at White Sands, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C., working in surveying and communications, before starting a long career in the construction business.
For many years, Skeris was a dedicated employee of Hendrickson Brothers, as well as Guy Pratt. He also founded Skeris Enterprises. His work in the construction business spanned from work on roads and bridges to custom home building, but no project was more important to him, his family said, than the home in Remsenburg that he built to raise his family in.
On August 10, 1958, he married the love of his life, Margaret Craw. Together, they had five children, who they raised in Lynbrook and Remsenburg. According to his family, he was a protective father and a strong leader with a soft heart.
He was happiest outdoors, often found riding his tractor, chopping wood, or in his work shed, and had a passion for skiing, especially at Okemo, Vermont, where he taught his children and grandchildren to ski as toddlers. He was a lifetime charter member of the Westhampton Yacht Squadron, where he served on the board and ultimately as commodore. He would spend hours at a time on the bay, boating and sailing, and meticulously cared for his boat.
Above all else, he loved his family. He was a loving and devoted husband, and a dedicated dad to his five kids as well as a father figure to many more. To many, “Uncle Carl” was a go-to person if there was an emergency, if you needed advice, a listening ear, or if you needed someone to fix the door that fell off the hinges, his family said. He enjoyed taking his grandkids on boat rides and rides in his truck, where he’d tell them stories of building bridges and serving in the Army.
He appreciated the value of a routine, waking up at the same time every day to eat grapefruit and Raisin Bran and rounding out every evening with crackers and cheddar cheese with a cold beer, and a nap to the news in his recliner.
He and his wife were members of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church for many years.
Skeris was an active member of the communities in which he lived. In his early years, he volunteered with the Tally-Ho Fire Company in Lynbrook, and served as captain. Later, he was a member of the Remsenburg-Speonk Board of Education, on which he served for 15 years in many capacities, including vice president and president.
He was a long standing board member at the Westhampton Yacht Squadron and served as commodore, as well as on the Race Committee. He was generous with his time and talents and could always be counted on by anyone who needed his assistance, his family said.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marge; his children, Russell (Fran), Ginny (Bob), Karen (Jack), and Jeffrey (Molly); his grandchildren, Carl (Alicia), Heidi, Lindsay, Margaret, Julia, Sarah, Grace, and Thomas; his great-granddaughter, Rose; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Fred and Peter; and his daughter, Victoria.
Services will take place at Werner Rothwell Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. A visitation and prayer service will be held on Saturday, September 21, from 2-4 p.m., and a visitation on Sunday, September 22, from 10 a.m. until noon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westhampton Yacht Squadron Memorial Fund, Westhampton Yacht Squadron, PO Box 315, Remsenburg, NY 11960 (631-325-8321).
Staff Writer on Sep 16, 2024