Born March 9, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to immigrant Greek parents James Skedros and Angeline Lymberiou. Con, as he was better known, married Anna Kumarelas in 1958 and together they raised four children. He graduated from East High School in 1940 and attended the University of Utah where he was a member of the ROTC. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and served in the Army Air Corp in England, France and Germany during World War II. After the war he returned to the University of Utah where he earned both his bachelor and master degrees in history. He initially taught at the elementary and middle school levels before joining the faculty at West High School in Salt Lake City where he taught U.S. History for 32 years as well as the Advanced Placement course in US history and directed the Model UN program. In 1987 he retired from teaching after 37 years. A highly respected and effective teacher he was a natural educator with an impeccable memory, a spirit of encouragement, sense of humor, and high standards.
A very active lifetime member of the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake City, he served for several terms on the Parish Council and was president of the parish in 1982-83. He was on many other church related committees notably serving many years on the Planning Development Committee, secretary for the 14th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese held in Salt Lake City in June 1958, and secretary of the Building Committee for the Prophet Elias Church (1967-70). He taught Sunday School for many years. In 1986, he received the St. Paul Medal from Archbishop Iakovos for his service to the Greek Orthodox Community of Salt Lake City. In 1995, he was honored by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with the appointment as Archon (depoutatos) of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the highest honor bestowed on a lay member of the Greek Orthodox Church. Historian of the Greek Orthodox community of Salt Lake, he was a founding member of the Hellenic Cultural Association and worked tirelessly in the development of the Hellenic Cultural Museum, serving as historian and archivist for the museum and its library. He was an active member and former officer of the Society of Athanasios Diakos and a member of AHEPA.
His commitment to community service extended well beyond his religious and ethnic background. He served as a board member for the Guadalupe School, was a member of Argenta Lodge #3, a board member of the Utah Humanities Council (1988-94), board member of the National Conference of Community and Justice (1995-2001), a member of the credit committee of the Salt Lake Teachers' Credit Union, and a board member of the Oral History Institute of Utah. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion. He was the recipient of many awards and recognitions including the Contribution Award from the Utah Historical Society, Teacher of the Year Award Kiwanis and Rotary Club, Hellenic Cultural Association Axios Award, St. Sophia School Award, and most recently the Utah State History Outstanding Contribution Award. In 2005 he authored the book Faith and Fervor commemorating the one-hundredth anniversary of the Greek Orthodox community of Salt Lake City. This book was based on his much larger chronicle of the Greek Orthodox Community which he had been working on for many years, sifting through archival materials, oral histories, and his own documentation. Known as the official historian of the Greek Orthodox community of Salt Lake he had an uncanny knowledge of family histories, Greek-owned businesses and local church community history. His passing marks the loss of an irreplaceable link between the first generation Greek immigrants to the Salt Lake valley and the current vibrant community they established. He enjoyed reading, having coffee with his friends, conversing with his grandchildren, and staying abreast of local, national, and international news. Proud of his ethnic heritage, he was a man of great character, kindness and wisdom. He saw the value, goodness, and potential in everyone he met. A man of faith and integrity, he was a dedicated husband and father who made sure that his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews knew their heritage, faith and family history as a way of providing them with a foundation for wherever their hearts led them in life.
He is survived by his children Angela (Philip) Kithas, Nia (Tim) Reganis, James (Stephanie) Skedros of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and Cindy Skedros and his grandchildren Antigone, Andrew, and Anthony Kithas, Anna Reganis, and Anna, Francesca and Rebecca Skedros. He is also survived by his brother Gregory Skedros with whom he had a special closeness and bond, many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, godchildren and many friends. Preceded in death by his parents and his wife Anna. The family wishes to thank Dr. Katherine Anderson for her compassionate care as Con's physician.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16 at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 279 South 300 West, Salt Lake City. Friends may call at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm with a Trisagion (prayer service) at 7:30 pm. Interment, Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hellenic Cultural Association, 279 So. 300 West, SLC, Utah, 84101 or the Anthony G. Skedros Memorial Charitable Fund.
May his memory be eternal.
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