John Skocz

John Skocz, 94, of Easton, MD, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore from complications of a blood clot. John was born on July 1, 1918, in New York City. He was the son of the late Frank Skocz and Helen Kobyluch Skocz, both immigrants from Poland. After graduating in 1936 from Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Bronx, he was employed by the United States Government as a Civil Service employee. From June 1942 until October 1945, he served with the 1st Infantry Division in the U.S. Army, in the African and European Theatre of Operations, where he earned the Bronze Star and Infantryman’s Badge. Following his release from active duty with the rank of Sergeant, he continued his civil service career. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he earned Bachelo'rs and Master's degrees in accounting from Benjamin Franklin University in Washington, DC. He retired from the government in June 1973 as a supervisory accountant with the Federal Aviation Administration. Prior to moving to Easton in 1976 with his beloved wife Dorothy, he had lived in University Hills, MD. John was an accomplished bird carver, a lover of classical music, action movies, mystery novels, and solitude; a quiet philanthropist; and role model. He cared deeply about his family and the legacy he would leave. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton, a member of the Regina Coeli Council #2274 of the Knights of Columbus, and the AARP. He and his wife, Dorothy, volunteered many hours at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. His wife, the former Dorothy Lewis, whom he married in November 1946, in Hyattsville, MD, died on January 15, 1999. Mr. Skocz is survived by two sons, John M. Skocz, and his wife, Kathy of Watauga, TN, and Paul A. Skocz and his wife, Rosemary, of Arnold, MD; grandchildren, Ryan, Justin, Timothy, and Maureen, and her fiancé, Kyle Tores; and seven great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2013, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 200 S. Harrison St, Easton, MD 21601. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 11:00 am in the Chapel of the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery near Hurlock, MD. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Skocz to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 7906 Ocean Gateway, Easton, MD 21601.

John Skocz

July 1, 1918 - April 3, 2013