Edward Frank Skowronski

EDWARD FRANK SKOWRONSKI of Bel Air died at home on December 22nd . He had been suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease for some time.

He was born March 6th, 1925 in Williamsport, PA. The loss of an eye during a childhood surgery left him ineligible for military duty overseas, however, he served stateside none the less as an MP and was an Expert 03 Rifleman. After World War II, upon his discharge as a sergeant from the United States Army, he entered Bloomsburg State Teacher’s College on the GI Bill where he was a member of the Newman Club, the Future Teachers of America, the Men’s Glee Club and the Track Team. He received his Bachelor of Science degree there in 1950. He was awarded a Master’s Degree from Bucknell University and completed studies beyond his Master’s at Loyola College in Maryland.

He began his teaching career in Maryland in Carroll County where he taught General Science for three years at Elmer A. Wolfe High School before moving to Rising Sun, MD where he taught for four years at Rising Sun High School. In 1959 he took a position in Harford County teaching Driver’s Education at Bel Air High School.

While at Bel Air High, he was responsible for the implementation of the school’s pioneering driving simulator program, having obtained funding for the program from AETNA. The simulator system featured a portable classroom trailer which was equipped with multiple individual automobile drivers’ compartments and a computerized system wherein students would view a film from the perspective of a driver’s point of view. While watching the film the students would be instructed to react to various simulated driving conditions and would be scored by a computerized monitoring system. Mr.Skowronski also taught behind the wheel.
When funding for Driver’s Education was rescinded by the State, he returned to the classroom where he taught history for a short time before retiring in 1984.

Mr. Skowronski was a lifelong member of the Knight’s of Columbus having joined the organization at the age of twenty-one. He attained the rank of Third Degree never wishing for the ruffles and flourishes of the higher Fourth Degree and was a past Deputy Grand Knight of Bel Air Council 4714. As a Knight he would for many years volunteer his service in taking patients of Perry Point Veterans Hospital to Mass and church services. In addition he was a supporting member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans U.S.A. General C. Pulaski Post #209 although his illness prevented him from actively participating in the organization.

He was a past president of St. Margaret School Home School Association and was one of a small number of school fathers who in the early 1970’s remodeled classrooms and built the school’s then new library. He was a parishioner of St. Margaret for forty three years. With his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Skowronski, he co-chaired St. Margaret Church’s Spring Festival and produced the musicals staged by the St. Margaret Players as fundraisers for the parish. He also volunteered his time during fundraisers at The John Carroll School which his children also attended.

Ed Skowronski was a golfer and fisherman. He was also an accomplished self-taught master woodworker who built much of the furniture in his home as well as many pieces which he gave as gifts to family and friends or donated to fundraising efforts at his church. He assisted in the construction of the original dance floor for the stage of Harford Community College’s Chesapeake Theatre in the late 1970’s.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Elizabeth Marcin Skowronski; his daughters, Maryanna Skowronski and Suzanne Skowronski, both of Bel Air; his son, John Edward Skowronski; daughter-in-law, Susan Rath Skowronski; and grandchildren, John Nicholas and Lauren Elizabeth Skowronski all of Alton, Hampshire, England and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, John Louis and Bertha Zelinski Skowronski; his sister, Elizabeth Ohnmeiss and his brother, William A. Lipinski.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Skowronski’s nephews Dennis Ohnmeiss, Stephen Marcin, Stephen Todd Marcin, and family friends, Michael Kelly, Kent Kelly, Roy Van Dusen and C. Kent Jordan. Honorary Pallbearers will be George J. Marcin, William Crosland and David Crosland. The altar server will be Alexandra Van Dusen.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that those wishing to do so may contribute to either:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; Grand Central Station; P.O. Box 4777; New York, NY 10163 or The Historical Society of Harford County; 143 North Main Street; Bel Air, MD 21014.