Dr. James "Jim" Gust Skofronick

After high school, he enlisted in the United State Air Force and was stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, now Cape Canaveral. He had a love of flying throughout his life, and learned to fly on a Piper cub airplane that he bought. Upon completion of service, he entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, earning a BS in Electrical Engineering.

Following his bachelors graduation, he married Dorothy (Dot) Nilles and started a PhD program at the University of Wisconsin in Nuclear Physics.

After completing his PhD, he moved his young family to Tallahassee, FL in 1964 and started his lifelong interest in teaching and conducting Physics research at Florida State University, where he acquired several awards recognizing his achievements and talents of being a Physics professor.

He and Dot had 4 children. He was an involved father, enjoying outings to lakes, beaches, parks, camping and hiking trails with the whole family. With his love of science and teaching, he inspired all of his children to become engineers.

Professionally, he wrote hundreds of scientific papers and several books, most notably Physics of the Body, and he was an invited speaker in many countries. He had a passion for teaching throughout his life. James eventually retired in 2003, after nearly 40 years of teaching at FSU, to enjoy other interests, like traveling, running, hiking, canoeing, camping, fixing up properties, investments, astronomy, water aerobics, and especially enjoying being a doting grandfather, where he was always up for an adventure and happy to share his knowledge about it. He also appreciated spending family time at his cottages: Panacea, Withlacoochee River, Sycamore Farm, Hewitt Lake and Carrabelle Beach.

James is survived by his loving wife, Dot Skofronick; sons, Greg and Gary, and daughter, Gretchen Desch. James is preceded in death by a daughter, Dr. Gail Skofronick-Jackson and brothers, Richard and Bruce. He will also be greatly missed by grandchildren: Marina Jackson Reid, Matthew Jackson, Christine Skofronick Hertz, Dylan Skofronick, Juno Desch and Steven Desch.

James leaves behind many relatives and dear friends to cherish his memory.

The family also wishes to thank the staff at St Augustine Plantation for Jim’s loving care.

A Funeral Mass for James will be held Friday, November 15, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00PM at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 624 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. For those that wish to attend, the Rosary will begin prior to the Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM.

After the service, an Inurnment with Military Honors will be held outside in the Columbarium of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with a catered reception to follow inside the reception hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, https://bigbendhospice.charityproud.org/Donate or to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, https://bsctlh.com/give-online 624 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308