Chads Chalfant Skinner

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -

Chads Chalfant Skinner died Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Chads O. Skinner and Angela (Sullivan) Skinner.

Although most of Chads schooling took place in Shaker Heights (Ohio), he graduated from Bronxville High School (New York), and Ohio Wesleyan University.

In high school, Chads began working on Cape Cod during the summer, and spent many summer vacations with family on the Cape.

Chads began his professional career as the Director of Admissions for Elmhurst College (Illinois), where he was able to attract the largest number of minority students for any liberal arts college in the United States.

He continued his career in higher education at Fordham University (New York) as Registrar before moving to Wall Street as Director of Computer Programming for Ebasco Services in New York.

Following retirement, Chads used his computer skills and administrative expertise to assist many nonprofits, such as the Gay Men's Health Crisis and Village Light Opera Guild in New York.

In 1987, Chads moved to northern California, where he volunteered for the Town Hall Theater.

After moving to Palm Springs in 1999, Chads volunteered at the Mizele Senior Center and was one of the founding members of Caballeros, a men's choir, and the Desert Pride Center, where he was serving as Co-Chair.

Chads is survived by his sister, A.J. Van Reen and brother Frederick Skinner of East Orleans, sister Deborah Skinner of Harwich, and sister Gretchen Abney of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Donations in Chads' memory may be made to the Desert Pride Center, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264-7453