Conrad "Bud" Joseph Skiba

Bud was born in Chicago on August 29, 1943 to Conrad Skiba and Velia Pollo Skiba and loved that great city. He also spent many happy years in Boston before moving to Portland Oregon in 1993.

He earned a BSEE (Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering) from the University of Illinois and an MSEE. He enjoyed a highly successful career as an engineer and then a sales manager, selling complex high tech systems to Intel, Microsoft, and other major customers. He retired at age 59 and enjoyed a very active retirement.

Bud was an elite athlete, running the Boston marathon in 2 hours, 46 minutes and completing countless marathons and triathlons. He also enjoyed camping, snowboarding, cycling, swimming, downhill and cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, tai chi, biking, swimming, dancing, and hiking. He completed a rigorous training program to earn certification as an Iyengar yoga teacher.

He fulfilled a lifelong dream to earn a private pilot’s license and owned a wonderful single engine plane, Bluebird. He has taken many trips to tropical destinations for scuba vacations.

He and his wife, Mary, have a passion for travel and enjoyed trips to countless destinations, both domestic and abroad. He especially loved Hawaii and Italy! Bud paid his way through college playing the trumpet in a band and has always loved music – jazz, classical, Big Band, and easy listening. He loves animals, especially his several grand-cats and grand-dogs and his soulmate, Linus, a delightful Maine Coon who was born in a shoebox in his closet and graced his life for 19 years.

Bud is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughters – Sandra Forrest (and Iain), of suburban London, Stephanie Skiba, who lives in Cozumel, and Stacey Mercado (and Victor), of the Woodlands, Texas; his stepchildren, Michael Staples who lives in Keene, NH, Suzanne Staples and Sheri Staples, of Portland, Oregon; his daughter in law, Becky Staples of Portland; three grandsons – Jordan Staples, Ross Forrest, and Jayden Mercado; two granddaughters, Lauren Forrest and Isabela Mercado; his sister, Joyce; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Eileen.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, stepfather, and grandpa – and a loyal friend.

According to Bud’s stated wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family will gather at a later date to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for contributions made in his name to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) - www.theaftd.org

He is in the care of Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary in Portland, OR. Your condolences, warm memories, and cherished photos may be shared on this page for Bud's family and friends. They will be greatly appreciated by all who knew and loved him.