William J. Skardinski passed into the arms of Our Lord on July 3, 2021. Bill was born in Cato, NY but spent most his life in the village of Jordan, NY. He grew up on Clinton Street, and attended Jordan High School graduating with a regents diploma in 1956. Bill joined the United States Army in 1957 where he served as a Nike Hercules Missile operator Battery B, 5th Missile Battalion, 3rd Artillery in Pittsburgh, PA. He was honorably discharged in 1960. Bill was hired by the New York State Department of Transportation as an Engineering Aid in 1960. He worked in many capacities at NYSDOT over a 35-year career retiring in 1995 as a Civil Engineer I. Bill went on to spend 5 years as a Resident Engineer for C&S Engineering. During his work career Bill served as a chief inspector for many large NYSDOT construction projects including the Camillus By-pass and the NYS Fairground interchange. Bill took great pride in his work, he took his commitment to the taxpayers of NYS very seriously and in retirement he loved to relate stories of his work life.
Bill was a devoted husband to his wife Mary Ann of 58 years. They met through a mutual friend and roommate; he was one of the “Jordan Elbridge Boys” who had come for a visit. Bill and Mary Ann spent many happy years together raising their family in their house on North Main Street in Jordan. Bill was a dedicated father and grandfather, as well as an active community member. He was a volunteer for the Jordan Community Council where among other things he grilled chickens at the Jordan Fall Festival for decades. Bill served as the unofficial inspector for any construction project in the village and was never shy about letting workers know if the job wasn’t up to his standards.
Bill loved spending time with family, he hosted an annual family vacation at Wehle State Park in Henderson, NY. Bill especially loved to spend time with his three grandsons Christopher, Benjamin and Connor. Bill was an avid fisherman and hunter, he had a great love of the outdoors where he could spend time with his son Andy and his dogs Snooper and Mollie. Bill had fond memories of watching his daughter Mary Beth dance which he enjoyed recounting to everyone. As well as stories of driving her to ballet auditions across the eastern US including a trip to Dayton, Ohio in a Ford Granada with no muffler. Although Bill preferred spending time in Jordan, Mary Ann twice convinced him to visit Ireland with his daughter Katie and son-in-law Michael and he had a wonderful time.
Bill was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jordan. He served as an usher and a Eucharistic minister and was a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 9042 for 35 years.
Bill was predeceased by his father Joseph F. Skardinski, his mother Anna A. Skardinski and his infant son Michael. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, sister Elsie McLaughlin, daughters MaryBeth Elliot (Perry), and Kathleen McHale (Michael), son Andrew Skardinski (Amy), grandsons Christopher Skardinski, Connor Skardinski, and Benjamin Elliot.
Visitation will take place at Bush Funeral Home 120 East Main Street Elbridge, NY on Wednesday, July 7 from 4 to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 am Thursday, July 8th in St. Patrick’s Church 28 North Main Street Jordan, NY. The rite of Committal and burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in William’s name be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or the Jordan Fire Department, 1 North Hamilton Street, Jordan, NY.
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