Obituary of Walter Joseph Skwish
Walter Joseph Skwish, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend, died peacefully at home on January 24, 2018. He was born in Scranton, PA on February 12, 1932 to the late Walter Skwish and Anna Romanauskas Skwish. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Fleming Skwish, his sisters, Patricia Panko and Joan Bank, his children Diane Skwish, Mary Nordgulen, Tom Skwish, Andrew Skwish, Julie Cirilli, and Stephen Skwish, his sons-in-law Tony Cirilli and Gary Nordgulen, his daughters-in-law Emily Skwish, Josephine Skwish, and Dawn Taber, his grandchildren Robert, Andrew, Dominic, Isabel, Hana, Alex, Porter, and Marit, and a wide circle of friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Joseph W. Skwish.
As a child, Walter attended St. Josephs School in Scranton where, for a time, classes were still taught in Lithuanian. He often accompanied his grandmother, Ona, to doctor’s appointments to help translate. He loved immigrant stories.
Walter attended Johnson Trade School in Scranton, PA. In his youth, he was an accomplished carpenter, boat builder, and woodworker. After his service in the Navy, he began a long career at IBM in 1955 as a system engineer, which enabled him to travel the world. He was one of the first employees to work on the early mainframes. After his retirement in 1985, he continued to offer his computer expertise to the Town of Poughkeepsie police and numerous other businesses and friends. He also invented the gravity machine with his dear friend, Daynor White. He was a member of the Pirate Canoe Club and the Elks.
An expressive storyteller, he struck up conversations with nearly everyone he met. He rarely had a negative word to say about anyone. Through his actions, he taught his children about the inherent good in people and the value of fairness, hard work, good food and drink, and kindness.
The family will mourn privately but asks that donations be made in Walter’s honor to Hudson Valley Hospice at https://www.hvhospice.org/foundation/donate/ or by check to Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home 371 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
If you would like to leave an online condolence please visit www.doylefuneralhome.com
