Bruce Phillip Skivington

Bruce P Skivington (85) passed away on Monday, October 7, 2024. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 39 years, Jane L Skivington, parents Raymond and Margaret Skivington, sisters Elaine Rogers and Lynda Ardan and her husband Ray.

Bruce was born and raised in Scranton, PA where he graduated from Central High School. After High School, he served in the US Army and went on to be a proud alumnus of Keystone Junior College and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He relocated to Vernon, CT in 1972 where he and Jane raised their 3 children Karen, Bruce and Beth.

Bruce built a successful career as a pioneer and executive in the Data Processing field working for Aetna in Hartford for many decades. Following his long tenure at Aetna, he contributed his talents to several other companies in the Hartford area capping off his career at Hartford Steamboiler. Bruce was a longtime member of Tallwood Men’s club where he would golf every Sunday and in 2017 he won the Presidential award.

Bruce had a love of boats and cars. He and Jane spent many years at Holland Lake where they would spend time with family enjoying the beautiful views and having fun on the water, skiing, tubing and taking slow evening rides. In retirement, he and Jane enjoyed a decade traveling to places they’d always dreamed of seeing, culminating in a cross-country road trip of a lifetime. Following Jane’s death in 2007, Bruce continued his wanderlust in his beloved Corvette convertible. He loved nothing more than to get in that car and drive near and far (probably a little too fast for the roads he was on) and rev the engine loudly in the Tunnel Road tunnel.

Most of all, Bruce was a very proud father and grandfather. He is survived by his three children Karen Skivington VanOudenhove and her husband Scott of Punta Gorda, Fl; Bruce P Skivington II and his wife Stephanie of Vernon, CT and Beth Skivington Hall of Reading, MA as well as his four beloved Grandchildren; Ryan Becker, Shannon Skivington, Taylor Skivington and Jane Hall. He was unfailingly proud and could be heard touting the accomplishments of his family to anyone who would listen. He was the ultimate patriarch who was always there for his family. His children credit him with pushing them to be independent, indulge adventure and travel, and embrace a carpe diem mentality. In recent years, he took pride in picking out birthday and Christmas cards to be mailed and arrive from Florida just on time for special occasions.

He is also survived by his brother Glenn Skivington and his wife Sandra, sisters in law Catherine Costanzo, Barbara Jennings as well as many nieces and nephews. Bruce loved going back to Scranton to have holidays with his large extended family. He would hold court telling stories about his mischievous childhood and rebellious teenage and young adult years. The core of his stories included escapades of expulsion from school, quarts of alcohol in alleyways and countless car accidents and fights were shared with several generations of family. Most recently, he began capturing these stories in a project he dubbed his memoir. He would often talk about the soundtrack of his life being summed up in the Frank Sinatra song “My Way” ; and to the very end that is how he did it.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Lexington Manner in Port Charlotte Florida who gave him a real home away from home. Additionally, to the doctors and nurses at Shorepoint Health in Punta Gorda, Florida we thank you for the support and dignity you provided.