David L. “Ski” Skalski, 68, of Manor Township and formerly West Hempfield Township, Lancaster, PA, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on December 6, 2023. He was born on January 27, 1955 in Pittsburgh, PA. Dave graduated from Fox Chapel High School and UNC-Chapel Hill on an ROTC scholarship. He proudly served in the United States Air Force as a Captain and navigator on the F-4 Phantom fighter jet.
Dave married his wife Tina, and they shared 40 beautiful years together, living in North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Maine, and Maryland, before settling in Lancaster, PA in 2000. He had a long career in life insurance and investment sales, working at several central Pennsylvania banks and firms. Dave was actively involved in the community as a field hockey and soccer referee, as well as a youth sports coach. He also served as a Judge of Elections in Manor Township.
In 2017, Dave underwent a life-saving lung transplant at Temple University Hospital, thanks to Dr. Criner and his team. Following his recovery, he became an avid hiker and in 2020 he fulfilled a long-held dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with his daughter Alaina.
Dave was a loving husband and a dedicated father. He had a gregarious personality, loved to share stories, and connected with everyone. He had an infectious smile and sense of humor. He enjoyed golf, landscaping, and was a jack-of-all-trades. After retirement, he found joy working part-time at Lowes. Some of his fondest memories include annual family beach vacations to Surf City, NC and the tradition of hand-making pierogies with the Skalski family.
Dave was predeceased by his parents Bernard and Germaine and siblings Bernard Michael, Thomas, and Renee, as well as his mother-in-law Elmo Boswell. He is survived by his wife Tina, his children Tyler Skalski, of Lancaster, Ben Skalski and his partner Eric Costello, of Philadelphia, and Alaina Skalski, of Washington, DC, as well as his siblings Margaret (Bill) Begley, Germaine Skalski, and Ron (Lisa) Skalski.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at DeBord Snyder Funeral Home at 141 E Orange St, Lancaster, PA. Visitation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. To view the service via Livestream, please click the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/david-skalski
Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or American Cancer Society. The family extends endless thanks to the many healthcare workers who cared for Dave over the past six years.
Cremation Services of Lancaster – 717-cremate