Norman ''Skip'' Skeggs

Norman Stewart (Skip) Skeggs, an especially kind, respectful and lovable man, passed away on March 27, 2021 with his devoted wife, Esther, by his side.

Skip was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Gordon and Mabel Skeggs and grew up alongside his brother, Bruce. The family’s frequent relocations due to Gordon’s profession no doubt contributed to Skip’s easy going nature and ability to quickly make friends.

While attending Allegany High School in Cumberland, Maryland, Skip’s passion was playing the clarinet in marching band. After graduating in 1964, he joined the Navy Reserves and received basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center north of Chicago. Skip served on the USS Canberra, a guided missile cruiser, during the Vietnam War.

Following his service, Skip graduated from Kent State University and began a career in the air freight business with Flying Tigers. Working for an all-cargo airline and then for a few freight forwarders required him to live in several cities across the country as he developed expertise in the transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat) within the U.S. and internationally.  Skip then transitioned from industry to enforcement, becoming a Federal Investigator for the newly formed U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs/Hazardous Materials Enforcement Office/Central Region.   Skip was unique as he came from Industry rather than Enforcement and brought with him a vast knowledge of the challenges industry faced in complying with the hazmat regulations.  He never lost sight of his roots in industry and educated his fellow investigators on the challenges industry faced.  He inspected companies that made or used shipping containers for hazardous materials to ensure they were safe when transporting hazmat.  Ultimately, because of his exceptional knowledge, Skip was called upon to deliver presentations to professionals tasked with increasing understanding of and compliance with federal rules and guidelines. Skip was an excellent speaker and became the voice of the Central Region.   He was known for presenting the technical aspects of the regulations then tossing aside the presentation materials along with his suit coat.   As he grabbed a chair he would exclaim, “Now, let’s talk!”

After moving every few years all his life, Skip became a true Chicagoan after he married Esther in September, 1981.  Skip and Esther lived in the northwest Chicago suburbs for all of their almost 40 years of married life.  As the family gardener for most of those years, Skip took great pride in the landscaping of their home, deciding which flowers and shrubs to plant as well as growing many vegetables.   Another of his favorite pastimes was watching almost any sports games and rooted for all of the Chicago teams.  He loved March Madness and watching the the Masters Golf Tournament.  

As active members of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Skip and Esther cherished this vibrant faith community. Skip served as Elder of Finance, Generosity and Nominating committees as well as Worship Assistant and Contemporary Worship Singer.  Like in his professional career, Skip was known for his deep, booming speaking voice and enjoyed being called upon to participate in services.

Skip and Esther loved to travel and visited over fifty countries together, planning nearly all of their trips themselves. Esther found places to stay as Skip drove with an incredible sense of direction. They sought out local B&Bs and small restaurants, enjoying conversations with locals and learning about their cultures. Skip was always respectful of the people they met no matter their circumstances. 

Skip cherished the beautiful scenery God created and loved seeing animals in their natural habitat. Their trips to Kenya and South Africa were among Skip’s favorite adventures. He was thrilled to see animals in the wild during a safari in Kenya and loved driving  through Kruger National Park while traveling in South Africa.  Skip and Esther spent many winters in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where they enjoyed the numerous friends they made there. Their trips to New Zealand and many to Italy were especially memorable as well.  

After retiring, Skip and Esther ultimately moved to Del Webb’s Sun City in Huntley. There they continued to bring their growing families together by hosting their annual Christmas party. 

Skip is survived by his wife, Esther (Grosso); his brother, Bruce (Laura) Skeggs; his brothers-in-law Paul (Mindy) Grosso and Dave (Karen) Grosso, his sisters-in-laws, Anita and Pat Grosso and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Mabel (MacMillan) Skeggs, and his brothers-in-law Dan and Sam Grosso.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Skip’s memory to the American Lung Association and the Cancer Research Institute. 

A memorial service is planned for June 19 at Southminster Presbyterian church with a limited amount of people due to covid.   The Memorial Service will be live-streamed and on you-tube.