Richard Skelton

Richard Skelton, age 87, of Port Jefferson, New York, born on November 12, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York died peacefully on May 5, 2019 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. He was surrounded by his family during his last days.

He was the husband of Joan (Siebert) Skelton, and the father of Diane Skelton Hare (Stephen Hare) of Voorhees, NJ, and Lynn Ann Zigrosser (Douglas Zigrosser) of Bayport, NY. He was the grandfather of eight grandchildren; Katelyn Diane Boyle (Stephen), Philip Joel Ondrejack, Jane Diane Biggs (Robert), Mary Diane Weeks (Shawn), AnnMarie Lynn Lutz (Joseph), Adam Douglas Zigrosser, Aaron Kenneth Zigrosser, and Angela Joan Zigrosser. He was the great-grandfather of Abigail and Ethan Boyle, Nora Biggs, Emma and Lily Weeks, and Vienna Lutz.

He was the son of the late Concetta (Jean) Olsen and late stepfather Arne K. Olsen, both of Port Jefferson, NY. He was predeceased by his sisters, Eleanor Lionetti and Louise Johannsen.

Richard, who retired as an environmental coordinator in 1994 after a 38-year career at Brookhaven Lab, was a volunteer with the Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 35 years. He became an EMT in 1973, and he was a volunteer at Mather Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room from 1973 to 1990. Since 1990, he has been a member of the Leadership Council, the hospital’s fundraising group.

He then served on a state-mandated quality improvement team for ambulance personnel at Mather, and he was a member of the hospital’s disaster committee, which was formed in 2002 for emergency preparedness in the event of a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. He was also a participant of the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee in Suffolk County. From 1989 to the present, he has been a member of the Port Jefferson Lions Club and was the pioneer and chair of the club’s annual holiday food drive. In addition, from 1995 to 2005, he worked as a volunteer for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon.

“All told, I estimate that I’ve volunteered at least 25,000 hours of my time over the last 35 years,” Richard once said in an interview. “It is very rewarding to help the local community. I am thankful that I have the health and ability to continue to help people.”

He was a deacon in the church and served on multiple committees and community projects, caring for the many residents of the Port Jefferson area during the 57 years he was married to his biggest fan and supporter, Joan. He often said that she was the reason that his life was so fulfilling and full of love. His selflessness and care for others summed up the overriding theme he lived by: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

He will be remembered every day as a man who loved God and his family with his whole heart.