[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF THE HON. FRED V. SKOK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEVEN C. LaTOURETTE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2003

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I recently lost a dear friend and 
revered colleague, Lake County Probate Judge Fred V. Skok, who died 
January 10 after a brief illness.
  Judge Skok left behind a beloved wife of 39 years, Linda; daughters 
Heidi Skok Thorp of Glenmont, NY, and Gretchen Skok DiSanto of Concord 
Township; sons-in-law James Thorp and Dino DiSanto, and two grandsons, 
Harry Thorp and Hugh Thorp. A daughter, Christine Marie Skok, and his 
parents, Victor and Mary (Shume) Skok, are deceased
  Judge Skok was a legal legend in Lake County. He was elected County 
Prosecutor in 1960 and Probate Court Judge in 1972. He was set to 
retire this year after serving 30 years on the bench. He was a 1952 
graduate of Princeton University and earned his law degree at the 
former Western Reserve University Law School in Cleveland.
  I consider myself blessed to have known Judge Skok for many years, 
and I looked to him as a mentor while I served as County Prosecutor 
before coming to Congress. Judge Skok was a quiet, scholarly man with a 
tremendous wit and a voracious intellect. He was revered in legal 
circles and doing the right thing was second nature to him.
  Judge Skok will also be remembered for his great devotion to Lake 
Metroparks, and maintaining the environmental beauty of Lake County. As 
a 30-year resident of Concord Township, few things brought more pride 
to the judge than preserving the sprawling park space by his home and 
throughout the county.
  The passing of Judge Skok brought great sadness to those who knew 
him. On behalf of the 14th Congressional District of Ohio, I share my 
heartfelt condolences with his family.

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