Frederick Albert Skove

1928 - 2021

Professor Emeritus Frederick Albert Skove, 92, died peacefully in the early hours of July 4, 2021, at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach Florida. Fred was preceded in death by his first wife, Christine Simmons in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Wirth Skove, of Indian River Shores, Florida and his three children, Beth Roche of Bokeelia, Florida, Patricia Titus of Naples Florida, and Neal Skove of Pasadena, Maryland, and six grandchildren. Fred Skove was born in Plainfield, NJ on September 19, 1928. He enlisted in the Navy upon his 17th birthday in September 1945. He served in the US Navy as a radar technician until 1949. In 1950 Fred married Christine Simmons of Newburgh, NY. They were married for 55 years and had three children. Fred earned BA and MS degrees from Rutgers University where he also worked and taught from 1950 until 1968. In 1968 Fred joined the faculty of the US Naval Academy where he founded the Computer Science Department. In 1983 the USNA Computer Science department was accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Board and is nationally recognized for its excellence. In 1984 Fred was awarded the US Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his contributions to the Navy. After 24 years Fred retired from the Naval Academy in 1992. A few years later Fred and his first wife, Chris settled in Vero Beach, Florida. In 2007 Fred married Eleanor Wirth Bannon of Fanwood, NJ in Vero Beach. Ellie and Fred had known each other since high school. Ellie was at Flower Fifth Avenue Nursing School in New York City in 1949 when she introduced her best friend and roommate, Christine Simmons to Fred. Fred and Chris got married within a year and they all remained friends over the years. Fred is also survived by his six stepchildren and twelve step-grandchildren through Ellie. Fred will be buried at the Naval Academy Columbarium on August 9, 2021. The family is being assisted by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent to www.strunkfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers or gifts the family asks that donations be made to the VNA Hospice Foundation.