Richard Skeen

1949 - 2024

Richard Skeen
May 26, 1949 - August 4, 2024
Richard Earl Skeen, known affectionately as Dick, passed away on August 4, 2024, in Flagstaff, AZ, at the age of 75.

Born on May 26, 1949, in Denver, CO, Dick will be remembered by his friends as engaging, interesting, fun, and imaginative. He loved people and was a treasured friend to many. Professionally, his life was dedicated to education and to a curiosity about the social dynamics that shape human interactions.

Dick's passing leaves his wife, Janet, and their twin children: Trevor from Washington, DC and Julianne, who lives in Mesa, AZ. His family will always remember his passion for having fun, whether traveling around the country and world, eating as many desserts as possible, or, most importantly, spending time together. He was great at being and making people happy.

Dick was also the father of Carren R. Skeen, who died in a traffic accident in 1992 at the age of seven. He is survived by his first wife and Carren's mother, Pippa Davies; as well as stepchildren, Melanie Lipton and Jeromy Bertram, all now living in Tucson, AZ. Dick's only sibling, Rayma Skeen, lives in Boulder, CO with her family.

After growing up in Denver, CO, Dick completed his higher education at the University of Colorado, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology. His academic credentials paved the way for a distinguished career as a Professor of Sociology at NAU, where he worked from 1981 to 2020. Dick had a far-reaching influence on countless students and colleagues, authored dozens of publications and presentations on many sociological topics, and also won the "Spotlight on Excellence" teaching award from the Associated Students Association.

His legacy at NAU is enduring, with many former students citing his classes as pivotal in their educational experience. Along with Social Psychology and Sociology of Film, another of Dick's academic specialties was the Sociology of Human Sexuality. As one might expect, his classes were among the most popular on campus. He was known for his engaged storytelling, pioneering class content, and for inviting experts from outside the university to present to his classes, broadening students' world view.
He also lived the "applied" side of sociology, serving as the Chair of the Sexual Health and Education Committee for the Flagstaff Unified School District, assisting as a legislative advocate for SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US), and winning the Distinguished Service Award from Northern Arizona AIDS outreach.

Dick not only taught classes and guided student research, but he also left a significant mark as one of NAU's early Honors Program Directors. Under Dick's guidance, the program drew interesting lecturers from around the world, giving students (and the city of Flagstaff) a rare opportunity to meet newsmakers and renowned personalities. Dick positively influenced many Honors students and significantly elevated the program's reputation, helping pave the way for the Honors College as it is known today.

A memorial service and celebration of Dick Skeen's life will be held Sunday, October 13 on the NAU campus in SBS Castro, Room 110. We will be honoring his contributions to the university and the field of sociology with an organized program at 3 p.m. as well as a Come & Go Reception with light refreshments from 4 to 5 p.m. A collection of the memories will be presented at the event and shared with the family. Please contribute your favorite memory of Dr. Skeen here: https://forms.gle/Lfg6xAnBbCom8brK9. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the NAU Sociology Department via https://nau.edu/sociology/give-now/ as you are able.