Where do I begin? I guess we can start with my thoughts on this gracious, loving man. He was my "Uncle Skip" ... my dad looked up to him so much and I wish you could see my dad every time I would say, "hey dad, uncle skip's on the phone!" he would light up with joy and a smile would always come over his face. He was the best uncle any kid could ask for... and his laugh was so contagious and unique. He had a witty sarcasm about him and he was always trying to pull jokes on everyone.

I'll never forget those summers we spent over at "Skip & Kay's," as my dad would call it... swimming in his pool. He'd even let us come over to swim when he wasn't home. There was always that "sign" that hung at the stairs of his pool and it read, "Welcome to our OOL, notice there's no "P" in it, let's keep it that way!" Like I said, always the jokester... there was a game he loved to play with me when i was little. We'd be in the pool and he'd say, "hey danny-boy" he always called me danny-boy, at least until I grew up. "try this," and he'd stand at the edge of the pool.. put his face in the water with his arms and hands outstretched in front of his head.. and he'd push off the side of the pool and float all the way across to the other side without kicking his feet or flapping his arms.. then he'd ask me to do it.

I had it in my head that I could do it exactly like he did. So i tried to immitate him the best i could... and for a few feet i did just that.. but then i started to slow down and i stopped in the middle but i didnt come up or stand bcuz i thought there still was a chance i'd make it... but my body rolled over and i had to take a breath... when i came up, he was standing there laughing at me the whole time with "that laugh." for years i tried to learn how to do it... then when i got older and went swimming i tried it and i could do it... and then i started to try and pull that trick on other cousins and kids and for a moment, i felt what he felt... fun!

Then when i gratuated jr high (circa 1988), i got a basketball hoop as a gift and a month later my dad bought the pole for it. Uncle Skip came over with all of his tools, the post-hole digger, the shovels, the wheel barrel, gloves and of course.. beer. He and my dad worked to dig a 6' deep hole and fill it with cement. they placed the pole into the whole and proceded to fill it with cemet. i stood at the top of the ladder pouring the buckets of cement into the hollow pole. And wouldn't ya know.. .ever the jokester.. because i was so skinny back then, uncle skip cracked a good one and it went something like this, "hey danny-boy," he knew that irritated me, "don't spill any or we'll put you inside that pole and put the basket on your head!" I wanted to pour the bucket on HIS head... lolz but that was uncle skip... the stand-up comedian that never was. 

There are more stories of him.. but I'll keep it short today.. I miss you Uncle Skip.. say hi to my dad. I love you.. I will always love you! Go Cubbies!!

Love always, 
Dan Hawker