Thomas Edgar Skarada

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved father, Thomas Edgar Skarada, who left us on June 16, 2024, at the age of 81, surrounded by his loving family in his final moments. He was a man of endless positivity, humor, and wisdom, who cherished every moment spent with his loved ones.

Thomas, fondly known as Tom, Dad, Grandpa, and Pop-Pop, was born on Nov. 22, 1942, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical engineering, he pursued a successful career in petroleum refining, which took his family on many wonderful relocation adventures around the country.

Tom’s kindness and loving nature is carried on by the love of his life–his wife, Priscilla; their three loving children, Doug (Nahmjee) Skarada, Priscilla (Steven) King, and Carolyn (Steve) Menke; his four loving brothers, Philip (Joan) Skarada, Donald (Fran) Skarada, Ronald Skarada, and Dennis Skarada; and nine precious grandchildren, Charlotte, Thomas, Sophia, Lance, James, Valerie, Angela, Oliver, and Priscilla. We all deeply mourn his loss but will carry our special memories of him forever.

Preceding him in peace are his parents, John and Anna.

Above all, Tom was passionate about his family. A devoted husband and father, his family invariably ranked first–he never missed a birthday or any other special occasion and he loved cheering on his grandchildren at their sports and activities. He planned epic camping trips over the years in the family Shasta, including Walt Disney World the year it opened, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Big Bend National Park where they ventured into Mexico.

He made everyone feel special and happy, cooking big breakfasts at family gatherings, establishing the “no rule zone” for the grandkids, and pulling silly pranks like the ghost in the attic. He took great care of everyone to extreme detail, down to calculating high tide so he could set up the beach umbrella in just the perfect spot each day. He was always eager to help with anything whether it was a home improvement project, planting a garden with his grandchildren, or helping cook Thanksgiving dinner, his favorite meal.

Tom also took pride in architectural feats such as designing and constructing with his own hands a horse stable and pasture fencing and continually enhancing his and Priscilla’s family legacy beach house.

Tom will be deeply missed by all of us who had the incredible privilege to know him. To honor his memory, a Celebration of Life will be held in Pittsburgh on Aug. 10.