08/28/1941 – 11/27/2024 – Gary was born in Rochester and spent most of his childhood in East Irondequoit. His playground was Durand Eastman Park where he learned to ski, survived Dead Man’s Hill on a sled, golfed, caddied, and lived nearby in a house built by his grandfather. He graduated from Edison Tech and RIT with a degree in Electrical Engineering and continued his love of sports playing football in HS and baseball at RIT. Gary enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam era and after serving chose to pursue a career at Xerox where he could put his Engineering skills to good use. After he retired from Xerox, Gary volunteered with DAV for many years driving local vets to and from appts. Gary was a skilled craftsman who could and did build, remodel and fix anything. He loved to travel and plan the itineraries for the trips. Gary continued an active lifestyle well into retirement playing tennis at 7am several times a week racing a Thistle sailboat, going on week long bike trips, and travelling to other countries. Gary had a wonderful dry sense of humor and he lived his philosophy on life: “Life is for Living,” He was hoping to live to 90 and how we wish he had.

Gary’s parents Ruth Wahl Jacobs and Selwyn Skillman are both deceased, as is his step-father Ed Jacobs. His brother Alan Skillman and sister Jean Czajkowski are also deceased. Gary is survived by his wife Sue, his brother Michael Jacobs ( Barb) and sister in law Marty Skillman, his children Cheryl and Eric and grandchildren Joella Skillman, and Sammy, Solomon and Simone Nabulsi.

Calling Hours will be Saturday 12/14/24 from 1-3 PM at Miller Funeral & Cremation Services (3325 Winton Rd S, Rochester). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gary’s name to Irondequoit Community Cupboard, 2841 Culver Rd, Rochester 14622 DONATE ONLINE.