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BORN
1964
DIED
2015
Scott Skiles Memoriam
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Memories and Condolences
for Scott Skiles
Michael Scott
October 19, 2020
Got an email from Legacy so I guess it must be five years. I miss him lots and wish he could have come to see me in UK. I'm listening to a Kind of Blue Miles Davies (possibly his favourite album) and will follow it up Remain in Light (which he new is my favourite). Music is the best way for me to honour him. I'm sure Scott would be telling you to get out and vote so please do.
Michael Scott
February 4, 2019
Recently got the very sad news and want to explain the photos I sent. The room with instruments is mine in Shimonoseki and Scott came to see me and we played some music before going out for a few beers. The one where we are with 2 girls in a bar is me next to my Japanese girlfriend I nearly married (wish I had) and he is with a friend I think. It was my birthday and Scott organised a surprise party for me with people I liked and we jammed with bongos and other instruments and it was very special for me. The photos on the mountain are of the Volcano in Kumamoto. We went on a road trip, slept in his car and had a great time. It was just after U2 released an amazing album with Eno where they all swapped instruments and made a film soundtrack. They were called the passengers and we kept playing Blue Room and Miss Sarajevo
I love the photo of Scott playing acoustic over Kumamoto Volcano with a beer bottle. It looks like a classic album cover! And captures him really well! The shadow in the background is because I took the photo with my iPhone in 2016.
He was someone I loved and had a great time with, especially cos he got my sarcastic English sense of humour (I was always joking about the baseball World Series??) compared with the football (not soccer) World Cup.
If you knew Scott and in the UK send me an email and get in touch
Mick Scott
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
Michael Scott Best friend from Japan
February 3, 2019
James Richardson
November 16, 2016
I just read about Scott's passing in the Oberlin Alumni Magazine. He was my roommate junior year and a real great person.
J Harkey
November 10, 2016
I never met Scott, but just read about him in the Oberlin alumni magazine. He sounds like a wonderful person, representing the best spirits of Oberlin, and I'm glad to share an alma mater. Rest In Peace.
Jeff Ziebarth
July 28, 2016
Belated condolences. I have many fond memories of the time spent with Scott in junior/high schools. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. God Bless!
Kristen Skiles
April 8, 2016
[Kristen's words from the service]
Mom and I were in Portland last weekend to be with Todd and his family and to also meet some of Scott's friends. We were overwhelmed not only by the number of people who turned up to honor him but also with the wonderful stories of how Scott touched each of them. Deeply. And as I look around, I see the same thing. We've been so humbled by the love and support that you have shown to us in this difficult time and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Everyone here knew Scott and was touched by him.
I don't think anything intimidated Scott. If it did, you'd never know. If he didn't understand something, he learned about it. If it was broken, he tried to fixed it. It was who he was. There were no problemsonly solutions.
We grew up with music in the house. Music was always playing. Depending on who had control of the stereo, you could find classical, jazz , rock, showtunes ( Not just me!). We all loved music in different ways. My dad played the piano, I sang and played sometimes. It was almost as if we had our own language when we listened to / or played music.
Scott loved all of it. But listening wasn't enough.
I'll never forget one day when I was sitting at the piano and he came over and wanted to learn more about what I was doing. How did I read music, how did I make sense of it? So I tried to teach him how to understand the notes. I'm not a teacher. I didn't do a very good job. But I didn't have to.
Shortly after that, scott sat down next to me again. And we went over what I had taught' him. And then he wanted me to show him where the notes on the page were in relation to the keyboard. So I showed him.
I had a book of classical pieces open and was fumbling through Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor. It is one of our favorites that my dad used to play.
Scott asked me to play for him and explain where I was on the page. And then he mirrored me a couple of octaves higher. As I showed him, he figured out what to do. He figured out in a few minutes how to make sense of the music on the page. And days later he played a good chunk of the Prelude. Anyone who knows this piece knows it is a monster. But he did it.
Scott also taught himself to play the guitar, the banjo and the harmonica. He played so well that he ended up playing the harmonica in different bands over the years. And he did all of this Without reading music. He listened intently and then played and then listened and played some more. Now, granted ,there were times when he'd be locked in his room playing the same thing over and over for hours and it got a bit oldbut that was scott. He did it until he got it right. He was stubborn after all. It's a family thing.
And to this day, I still love listening to journey and the eagles.
Scott taught himself basic Japanese and then went to Japan , became fluent and taught little children how to speak English.
He didn't like public speaking so he learned stand up comedy. I never heard his routine but I have no doubt he succeeded in making people laugh.
He loved working with his hands. He was an exceptional artist with any medium. He did woodwork and cabinetry for a while in Boston and made cabinets for a restaurant on Newbury street in Boston.
I had just moved to Boston then and he showed me his work. For anyone that doesn't know, Newbury Street is the street in Boston to see and be seen. There I was, this transplant from Breckenridge in the big City of boston and my brother was showing me his work on Newbury streetthat was pretty cool..
HE was pretty cool.
And he also taught me how to speak and interpret the boston accent. I learned a lot from him my first days in Beantown.
And if scott was passionate about something, you knew it. Whether it was sports, music, politics or the environment, if it was important to him you knew. And he acted on things. He was never one to sit around and complain about something that he didn't like. He tried to fix it. He always tried to make a difference. He worked on election committees, canvased for the environment. He got the word out. Was he stubborn? Yes. And it worked. He had this charismatic way about him and you wanted to listen to him speak. You wanted to believe in what he was saying because you knew he believe it too. You wanted to donate money to the cause. He was a great salesman.
And he was an exceptional storyteller.
And if you could get him to tell a story as a Japanese Tourist you'd never stop laughing.
Scott wasn't perfect. I'm sure he even got into trouble occasionally. Some of you can enlighten me I'm sure. But the beauty of being the youngest is you are often protected from the not so perfect things that happen in life. So in my eyes, Scott was pretty perfect. He was my hero. My Teacher. My Friend.
The other thing you learn when you are the youngest is how to out stubborn Stubborn. I became really good at it. It was a skill I perfected and still use, to this day. It's a good defense mechanism. But not always the best means of dealing with things.
Scott is gone. But his spirit lives on in each of us. I ask you all to learn from him:
Be present in each other's lives.
Listen.
Don't be intimidated to try something new.
And if something is important to you, do something. ACT. Don't sit. Don't wait.
And remember that more often than not, it is better to be kind than right.
We're all going to make a difference in peoples lives. Best to figure out how to make that a positive one whenever possible.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starshine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry:
I am not there; I did not die.
Todd Skiles
April 8, 2016
Music notes from Scott's service:
Before service/ Prelude :
Miles Davis, All blues
from the album, Kind of Blue
[Scott's favorite album].
Dave Brubeck, Take 5" as the family enters
The opening hymn will be Amazing Grace
During Communion the special music is Rachmaninov's Prelude in C# Minor (recorded)
[often heard around the Skiles' piano, be it Keith, Kristen or Scott at the keys]
The Sending:
Battle Hymn of the Republic
[Scott quickly learned Herbie Mann's version of this song.
Recorded [on a phone] while spreading Keith's ashes]
We will recess to Three Dog Night Joy to the World".
Followed by Three Dog Night, Shambala"
Todd Skiles
April 8, 2016
[From Scott's service]
Scott Randal Skiles was born on May 15, 1964 in Grass Valley, California. Beloved son to Jackie and Keith (1935-2013); brother to Jeff (Martha, Amelia, Lucy, Frances), Todd (Patricia and Simona), and Kristen; nephew to Bonnie and Rick Jacobus; cousins with Rod Jacobus (Tau), Jill (Steve, Cole, Lauren).
Scott grew up in Littleton Colorado and graduated as an honor student from Heritage High School in 1982 lettering in baseball and soccer. He attended Pomona College for two years, on a soccer scholarship, and after two years he transferred to Oberlin College, where he majored in History and graduated in 1986. He had many vocations in his life - carpenter, musician, teacher and activist. Above all he was a lifelong learner and a seeker of knowledge.
Scott was incredibly focused once he determined a course of action. Upon acceptance into an English teaching program in Japan, he completed a self-taught crash course on Japanese and thought himself how to write and read Kanji. He later found out from Japanese friends that he spoke formally, like their grandparents. It didn't take long for him to learn to speak in a more colloquial manner. He retained his knowledge of Japanese, especially kanji, and used it to take personal notes and keep passwords safe.
Jackie, Jeff, and Todd visited him in Japan and were amazed at his ability to connect with young and old. He taught preschool and elementary children as well as business professionals and seniors. His ability to connect with them, uninhibited.
Scott was also passionate about sports, particularly baseball. He grew up a St. Louis Cardinal's fan and embraced the Rockies upon his return from Japan. His routine was to call and discuss the games with mom after a Broncos/Rockies game ended.
Scott had an amazing ear for music. It was his true love. Completely self taught, he would listen to a piece and reproduce it on the piano, guitar, or harmonica. He surprised many jazz musicians and fans when he would play Miles Davis's Kind of Blue on a harmonica during open-mike nights. When jazz musicians saw his harmonica, their initial shock was quickly transformed into admiration. And when he left the stage, he'd often hear, Boy, he can really play.
Scott lived his life true to the motto taped to his mirror Do something every day that frightens you. He performed standup comedy to overcome his fear of public speaking. He enjoyed upending peoples' expectations whether it be a piece of music, a comedy improv set, or societal thoughts and actions. He was a longtime activist for peace and the environment. His success as an activist was an outgrowth of his sincerity, his passion and his ability to really listen.
His later years in Portland were difficult as his mental health deteriorated. In spite of that he met and connected with so many people in Portland from different backgrounds who were genuinely touched by his life and death. Nearly 200 people attended his memorial last weekend in Portland sharing stories of how deeply he impacted their lives. He leaves a large hole in all of our lives. We miss him dearly and we believe he is finally at peace.
December 30, 2015
Just heard this sad news. Great memories of Scott from Heritage & college days in Cali. My prayers go out to the Skiles Family.
Marianna Tucker Carnes, Littleton, CO
Paula Stoner Kittay
October 31, 2015
So sad to hear about Scott. I knew him from school but mostly from Holy Trinity Youth Group. He was fun and a very nice guy. R.I.P my friend. Sending prayers to his family.
Rondi Berge
October 29, 2015
Scott was a very sweet and genuine guy. Very sad to hear the news. God bless your family.
Dianne Zezulak
October 29, 2015
My heart is broken. Scott and I had a special friendship - friends, roommates, musicians together. A brilliant funny one of a kind spirit. Prayers to the family and rest in peace, my friend. We had more in common than you know.
Dave Nash
October 29, 2015
I'm very sad to hear the news. I knew Scott and played baseball with him at Heritage my freshman year before moving. My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Karen Cramer
October 29, 2015
I went to school with Scott. He was a gentle, sweet soul. I will remember his smile the most. So sorry for your loss.
Bill Weatherford
October 29, 2015
I had the pleasure of meeting Scott in grade school (Walt Whitman), our friendship continued through Euclid Jr. and then Heritage High. Scott was a brilliant guy. Besides soccer, he was a
talented baseball player also. I'm numb about it a so sad. I was thrilled to see him in 2002 at HHS 20 yr. reunion! His big smile was as genuine as ever. Rest peacefully old friend.
Bill Feely
October 28, 2015
I am deeply saddened by the news of Scott passing. I knew him from What Whitman to Euclid to Heritage, he truly was a nice guy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Kristin Johnson
October 28, 2015
We all grew up together...my deepest condolences to the entire Skiles family. Sending you much love. Kristin Johnson
Nancy Baird
October 28, 2015
Jackie, as a fellow Mom, my heart bleeds for you.
Kristen (Skiles) Almechatt
October 28, 2015
Kristen (Skiles) Almechatt
October 28, 2015
Mindy Travis-Karnish
October 26, 2015
I am so sorry. I also knew him in high school and thought he was such a nice guy. So sad.
Valerie Taylor
October 26, 2015
I'm so sorry! Scott was a great guy and awesome soccer player.
Valerie Taylor - HHS '82
Patrick O'Brien
October 26, 2015
So sorry for your loss. May God Bless you all.
Karen Pitzer
October 25, 2015
So sorry to hear this. I knew Scott in high school and he was an excellent athlete and a really nice guy.
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