In Memory . . . Rev. A. John Skeirik (1918-2007)
John Skeirik was born in Marquette, Nebraska on August 3, 1918. He was the son of a Methodist minister. He received his A.B. from Syracuse University in 1941 and the Master of Theological Studies from Boston University School of Theology in 1944. He also completed an M.Ed. degree from Bridgewater State College in Library Science in 1978.
The Reverend Skeirik received Preliminary Fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist ministry in 1961 and Final Fellowship on November 16, 1965. He had been ordained in Binghamton, NY in 1947 as a Methodist minister. John served pastorates in the Methodist faith in NY and Massachusetts from 1944 to 1962. At the time he became fellowshipped he was serving First Parish in Sherborn, Mass and later served the Reading, MA and Hollis, NY congregations. He retired from the ministry in 1983 after serving the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro, MA where he was named Minister Emeritus.
After retirement John and Betsey continued to live on Cape Cod. Following his retire-ment from ministry, he had a second career as a multi-media specialist and served as an assistant librarian in Massachusetts public schools from 1984 to 2004.
John had several talents: he was an exceptional amateur photographer, and he enjoyed carving wood objects with his wood-carving power tools. He and Betsey also enjoyed travel, including a number of trips to Europe. After he retired from his library position in the public school system, he donated time to the library of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
One of his colleagues writes, “John was an uncomplicated, transparently kind, and genuinely liberal minister, one without a mean bone in his body.” From his brother Kal, “John’s was a legacy of love, of caring, of healing, and of compassion that he left in the hearts and minds of the young and the old with whom he came in contact as he unselfishly served during his ministry and public service.
Rev. Skeirik is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betsey and a brother, Kaleel Skeirik of Richmond, VA and a sister, Jeanette Macht of Feasterville, PA.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 24 at 11:00 A.M. at The Meeting House in Chatham, MA to be officiated by The Reverend Denis Meacham of First Parish Brewster where Rev. Skeirik was a member.
Messages of condolence may be sent to:
Mrs. Betsey Skeirik
Epoch of Brewster
873 Harwich Road
Brewster, MA 02631