Harry E. (Skip) Loughner III
March 5, 1942 to June 26, 2009
Skip was one of the few of my best Friends. For 16 Years we were neighbors and our Families had done everything together. Cook outs, even in the winter, Pic Nics, Pool Party's, Traveling, taking in parks, the Pittsburgh Zoo, Lake Erie, Pymatuming, Idlewild Park, we had done and seen many things together. We once were more than just Friends and neighbors, like Skip use to say, "We were Closer than most families!" Like True Friends, we would help one another as much as we could and most times without even asking. Between the two of Us, when we put our heads together there was little that we could not do. We were true Compadres and Brothers of the best kind! At Times I would see other family and friends become jealous, they could not understand the kinship we had. We never fought, or really argued. but we would have some very intense debates at times. I Remember a couple times we were chatting in the evening and before we knew it, it was early the next morning. Skip had a keen Intellect, especially about world news and our government. He Taught me alot and not just about machining, or cooking, but even life itself. One of his Sayings was, "I am a Jack of all trades and master of none!" He also had other Sayings to a lot of the little tricks in doing things that he had taught me, which not only made it cute at the time, but also helped me in remembering them. Even to this Day some of those little tricks he taught me remain unique in that I haven't found even the professionals to be aware of! There may have been some in the Neighborhood that did not think highly of him, but then most who are like that never took the time to really know you, or just did not agree with your life style! While he may have become upset at times like most folks do, I never seen him fly off the handle, act wildly, or crazy. He would want you to Believe he was a bad ass biker type, but even though he would not let anyone push him around, or take advantage of him, I never had thought of him as such. Skip had went through a lot in his life, he lost his first wife and mother to his first child when they were still young. He Served in the military under President Kennedy, in cuba just before Vietnam, standing by on a missile launcher that would have meant his life if we were to have gone to war with Russia. Skip had true Respect for people where it was due and even though I was close to my Dad, Skip had told me alot of meritorious things I had not known about the 82nd Airborne who served in WWII, which my Dad had. There is a Saying, "The Proof is in the pudding" and Skip not only said he had alot of respect for my father, but on a couple of occasions he had actually proved it!Somehow Skip became the designated Cook for our picnics and maybe that was because he was really good at it. I still Miss our Christmas and New Years together very much. I haven't had and don't think I will ever have roast beef sandwiches as good as Skips. On New Years Eve. he would prepare a feast which included a large kettle of roast beef that made your mouth water in anticipation. Later in our years after Skip had put on some weight and his beard had turned white, we were all at Idlewild Park and Skip and I were sitting on a bench just taking in the sights and a Mother with her young Daughter walked by and this little girl turned to her Mother and pointed at Skip and began raving, "Look Mommy, there is Santa Claus." It was so Cute, in the middle of Summer and this little girl actually thought he was Santa and wanted to go sit on his lap, we had a good chuckle over that! Skip was really good with Kids, he never talked down to, or talked to them like a baby, he treated them with the same respect as he would with an adult. During the Summers we had many pool picnics, Skip and his two Daughters would come over and swim in our above ground pool.
When my two Daughters were very young, he would teach them how to swim. Skip would Show Off a little at times by showing us how relaxed he was in water, he would lay on his back in the pool and practically fall asleep. There are so Many good Memories, in fact even when times were not so great, like one winter when everyone was snowed in, the memories still are good! Even though I am one to Remember the Good times and try to forget about the bad, the majority of our times together were good. I have had a lot of Friends and a few good ones, but in my entire life, when it comes to a long time acting friendship with someone who you get along with like two peas in the same pod and have a lot in common with, there were only two, Bud and Skip. Even though Skip was 16 years older than I, we always looked at and treated each other as equals. To Me, Skip was that big brother that I never had and whom I came to have a special kind of respect for. I have Lost quite a few people over the years whom I still miss, but like my Father, Bud and Dave my brother in law, there was a very close and long relationship with Skip that I will miss very much!
Anthony A. (Tony) Bianco
My Slideshow for Skip
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