Anthony V. Skrbek
September 24, 1906 - April 11, 2005
Obituary
Anthony V. Skrbek
I was born in Prague, in what is now, the Czechoslovakia Republic. I studied European history in Prague, where my Father was a professor of Greek history. Later, I went to Vienna, Austria for two years to study foreign relations. I escaped with my wife and two boys from Czechoslovakia in 1949 and, with luck got a position with Braniff Airlines to work in South America. Later, Mr. Braniff and Franklin Roosevelt Jr. sponsored us into the U.S. When we first came to Seattle, we slept in a big Oldsmobile, a gift from Mr. Braniff. We looked in the phone book for any Czech. name of a person who might help us. There was the name “Kusak Cut Glass Co.” I Talked with Mr. Kusak on the phone and told him that I had two children and needed a job. He invited us to his home where there was a piano and my wife and I started to play the violin. Mr. Kusak invited us to stay the night. We slept there and next day Mr. Kusak called a friend living in Broadmoor. We went there to play the violin. We played ‘Ave Maria’ well with the daughter of the glass company. That day, they offered me a job working rotation shift in the glass factory. I worked there for twenty years. My two boys graduated with honors from Seattle University. Tony, the oldest took a job at the University of Idaho in Moscow Idaho. There he met a beautiful but not well educated girl and married. He lost his job in Idaho and moved to Colorado. There he went into bankruptcy. We were separated there but I think he lives in Arizona. Milan the younger boy lives in Dallas, Texas. He is a co-manager in a food processing company. He keeps in contact with me. He is a good boy.
I have been divorced for twenty-seven years. Now, I live alone. I am ninety-five and a half years old and live on Social security and at the housing authority in Burien. I have in my apartment the many books and the driftwood I have collected in the mountains. I have climbed many mountains and when I go would like my ashes to be placed there. I have my memories and special friends. One special friend; Dr. Jacqueline Duncan is married and her husband is also a friend. Jacqueline is to be executor of my will.
Anthony V. Skrbek dictated the above on July 26, 2000.
On February 2001 Tony moved to Des Moines Vista where he lived and was loved by everyone. Tony died peacefully on April 11, 2005 after a short illness.
Dearest Tony…
What a wonderful man you were! You were always so handsome in your ascot and beret, and you even knew how to make a track suit look smart!
You were really supportive and kind to us girls my sisters- Lisa & Delana, and our ‘other sister’ Heidi and told us that all the traveling and adventures we had were “VUNDERFUL!!!” and you made us feel so special telling us how “BEEE-UUU-TIFUL” we were. We miss your love of life and your flair.
Here’s to many great years being your friend!
Much love,
Janine.
i HAVE SOME WONDERFUL MEMORIES WITH YOU AND JACQUELINE CAMPING AND HIKING IN YOUR ELOVED MOUNTAINS. yOU ALSO MAKE AN INCREDIBLE WILD MUSHROOM SOUP. yOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMERED FOR YOUR LOVE OF LIFE AND APPRECIATION OF ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN NATURE. iT WAS A JOY TO KNOW YOU.
We will always remember Tony for the gentleman he was all the years as we knew him. We lost a great person and a good friend.
I met Tony for the first time 22 years ago, when participating on a hike up Tiger Mountain, organized by Issaquah’s Trails Club. He was driving his beloved VW Camper, which he called his “Hilton”. His reason for that name: “Every time I sleep in it, I put $50 in my pocket” after his words. He kept this car running until his move into the nursing home. Thanks to a kind mechanic, it was patched up on numerous occasions.
Tony was foremost a lover of life and treasured every moment on that earth. He kept his body as fit as possible and walked every day to his PO Box. The Post Office was miles away from his Burien apartment.
Besides keeping fit, Tony kept his mind sharp. In his 90is, Tony went to lectures at the University. He could recount with enthusiasm every detail, marveling at the “fantastic” lecture.
Tony was a long time member of the “Austria Club” and participated in many activities. He hardly missed a “Freeway Clean-up” and no dance was complete without his smiling face and nimble feet.
In later years, he had a special driving permit, allowing him to drive on secondary roads and not at night. We drove him to several Austrian Club dances then. During one of these pick-ups, Tony gave us his hiking boots and backpack. This was an indication to us that he did not plan to go backpacking again. He kept on hiking, but with lighter shoes.
The “Austria Club of Washington” is missing Tony, who was an inspiration to all of us.
In memory
Fredy and Helga Jaques
My name is Tinneca, and I am the wife of Karel Sir. I never met Tony before he went into the home….I only met him 4time when I visited with my husband. He was very good friends with Josef, my husbands father. Each time we saw him he would always say something about life. To enjoy life…to live life…to love life. It is special to know someone who you meet only a few times, but know that you have met a very great heart. We are sad that he is gone of course, but happy that Tony is able to climb mountains once again.
Tony always called me the “beautiful grandmother”–such a flatterer–and I loved it. He was really a special person. Sorry I never acquired the taste for cognac, but here’s to you, Tony. What a life!
We bought Tony’s family home on So. Findlay Street 37 years ago and have loved it as he did. We have been unsuccessful at trying to contact him to invite him to see the improvements we have made. He made buying our lovely home a wonderful memory. He had many offers to sell to others, but wanted us to have it. We were blessed by his acquaintance.
My folks and myself were neighbors of Mr. & Mrs. Skrbek. Tony Jr. was a little older but I went to school with Milan. After many years, we are now reaquinted on Facebook. Mr. Skrbek was a live wire for sure. He had more energy than most and when I returned from military service, found him living in the apartments in Columbia City. Until now, I did not know he lived to be 99 years old. Glad I found this.