In Memoriam

 

 

PRIVP Michael McGovern received word on Friday, November 30, 2012 of the passing of Past District Governor Bill Skinner from his daughter, Leyman Love (Skinner) Murphy.

 

My father, William R. Skinner, passed away early Wed. morning (Nov. 28).  My mother Lucy wanted me to pass on the news to you.  My Dad was playing a game called pickle ball with a bunch of his friends and fell and hit the back of his head on Mon. afternoon.  He never regained consciousness.  Sam, Reader, and I were all able to get to Florida to "say goodbye" before he passed.  He definitely went out at the top of his game - happy, healthy, and still as handsome as ever. It is how he wanted it to happen.  Just way too soon for all of us!  He was 82. The date of January 19th has been set for a memorial service in Shell Point, Florida.

Michael McGovern replied with memories of Bill:

 

It is so sad to hear this shocking news.  I was just talking about your father last week and telling some folks in Hampton what a wonderful governor he was.  The story I was telling was at our breakfast table and we were talking about the impact people have.  The specific story was about your father obtaining an ambulance/rescue vehicle for Yoro, Honduras. After telling them about Yoro, I then said because of what your father did, I thought to ask our rescue company to send an ambulance overseas. They chose not to do that but instead have since given old ambulances to two poor rural Maine communities.  The two towns in Maine got ambulances as a direct result of your father's example. 

 

Another example of your father's impact was what he did for Yuki, his ambassadorial scholar from Japan. Yuki, a few years after returning to Japan was the first president of a new Rotary club formed mostly by Rotary Foundation alumni. This club is now world renown and is deeply respected in Kanagawa prefecture and throughout Japan. I have seen Yuki a few times over the years and decided one day to recommend that he serve on Rotary International's Alumni Committee. Yuki was appointed to the committee which was highly unusual as he had not served as a district governor, but he was seen as a future leader of Rotary in Japan.  Again, due to the impression your father made on him while he was in Durham. Yuki is making an impact. 

 

Your father did so much himself, but also set such a high bar for others to follow. 

 

He was a dear friend.

 

 

Bill followed me as District Governor in 1998-1999.  Bill, Mike and I spent many days together driving back and forth to PETS.  Bill was a real gentleman and he liked to laugh!  He was a very dedicated and humble Rotarian who cared for others. This became very obvious when he was awarded the “Service Above Self” Award at the World Peace and Understanding Dinner on February 2, 1996 by RI Director Dan Mooers.  Bill received Rotary International’s highest honor, the Service Above Self Award for his efforts on behalf of the Rotary Projects in Honduras.  This was a complete surprise to Bill and Lucy even though many of us in the room knew about the presentation.