Copyright © 2016
John F. Oyler
December 29, 2016
Skip Colussy
Curtis Copeland Jr. did a fine job convincing us that his
father was indeed “Bridgeville’s Favorite Son”; the passing of Skip Colussy has
me wondering if there is room for more than one person to claim that
distinction.
I was three years behind Skip at Bridgeville High School, a
Freshman when he was a Senior. I remember being particularly impressed that
someone I knew was on the football team. His mother sponsored some sort of
youth group at the Bethany Church, and we occasionally met at the Colussy home,
so it was easy for me to consider Skip a friend.
The expression “easy for me to consider Skip a friend” could
be his epitaph. Throughout his long, productive life he was typified by his
easy going manner, his constant grin, and his inherent capability of making
everyone feel he was their friend.
Skip went off to W and J after high school and then into the
Army for a tour of duty in Korea. Upon his return from military service he
married Virginia Keefner and went to work in the family business, Colussy Motor
Company. In 1968 he took over the business from his father and shepherded its
transition into one of the largest auto dealerships in the area. He was
certainly the antithesis to our stereotype automobile salesman. Skip retired in
2000, turning the business over to his sons Tim and Jonathan.
Virginia was the perfect mate for Skip, his soulmate for
fifty nine years until her death in 2012. She was a great lady and the perfect
matriarch for that branch of the Colussy clan. I knew her when the Keefners
first moved to Bridgeville and she became part of our Bethany clique. In fact I
believe I took her to her first formal dance at Bridgeville High School. I
remember feeling overwhelmed that my date for this affair was this beautiful,
gracious young lady.
Folks of our generation are well aware of the popularity of
nicknames in those days. I suspect a lot of people would have difficulty remembering
that Skip had been named for his grandfather, Louis, and I am not sure he would
have responded automatically if someone had addressed him as Louis.
There is a theory that the nickname Skip refers to a skipped
generation, a situation like this one in which a grandson inherits his
grandfather’s name rather than his father’s. It does seem logical.
Among the poignant photographs and artifacts at the funeral
home for Skip’s viewing was a manikin dressed in an Army Sergeant’s uniform.
The campaign ribbons were familiar to me. At the time Skip was coming home, I
was going into the service and eventually ended up in the Far East. Although
the cease-fire in Korea had occurred, those of us with cushy assignments in
Japan still qualified for the same campaign ribbons.
Skip’s Korean service ribbon, however, also included three
battle stars. I have no knowledge of his experience in Koran during the war;
legitimate service heroes are consistently reticent about such events.
According to the “News Obituary”, Skip ran a motor pool in Korea. I suspect
there is a more significant story behind those three battle stars.
After his active retirement from the auto agency Skip
continued his service to Bridgeville, including a term on the Borough Council.
I was fortunate to have considerable contact with him related to his
involvement in the Bridgeville Area Historical Society. His chairmanship of the
Society’s Board of Directors brought a much needed business perspective to a
struggling non-profit organization.
The last time I saw Skip was at the “Second Tuesday”
workshop on the Greenwood neighborhood. We will miss his cheerful demeanor and
relevant comments.
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