GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—There was hardly a dry eye in the building as hundreds of people from around the country gathered at Northwoods Assembly Church in Summerville to remember a firefighter who touched so many lives during his short time here on earth.
Four days ago, Steven “Skip” Skipton Sr. lost his courageous battle against cancer after it spread to his lungs, pelvis and kidneys. His sudden passing has come as a shock to all those who knew this devoted father of four. The dedicated fireman was not only loved by his family but by his brothers he worked so closely with in the field.
“Steve loved being in the firehouse. He loved running calls,” stated Chief Steve Chapman with the Goose Creek Fire Department. “He was the kind of firefighter who never complained about anything. He loved being a part of a team that helped each other, relied on each other.”
He was a man who enjoyed helping others, too. For the last 25 years, he worked as both an EMT and firefighter. Before coming to work for the City of Goose Creek, Skipton had worked in various other places including the Bellmawr Park Fire Department and worked EMS for UMDNJ both in Camden City and Newark.
“In 1996, Steve was hired as a part-time employee with us. He enjoyed working in Camden and he wanted more work and hours,” stated Chris Williams with the Camden Fire Department in New Jersey. “Steve sat back in his first year. He listened. He did his job. He observed. He worked hand in hand with the Camden city police department on swat missions.”
When 9/11 occurred, Skipton was one of the first people from his fire department to head to New York City shortly after the towers collapsed. There, he spent weeks assisting with the recovery efforts.
“I believe he got his work ethic from his dad,” stated Tracy McEneaney, Skipton’s sister. “When Hurricane Andrew hit, he went down south to help with the recovery efforts there, too. He was only 19-years-old then. Nine years later is when he went to Ground Zero to help.”
In 2010, Skipton moved to Goose Creek where he became a firefighter/EMT for the city.
“When Steve came to Goose Creek he was very experienced. He quickly became a mentor within our department,” stated Chapman. “When I interviewed him, I asked ‘why do you want to move to Goose Creek?’ He said he wanted a chance for his girls to grow up in a small town. If you knew Steve, first and foremost he was a family man.”
According to his sister, the explosion of the Space Challenger had a profound impact on him and is what inspired him to follow a career path that would allow him to help others.
“For a while, I thought he might be an astronaut,” she said.
For others, Skipton was always the jokester. In fact, many say he missed his true calling as a comedian.
“He was a funny guy. His wit was razor sharp. He could bust your chops all day long and all you could do was laugh,” explained Chapman.
Skipton’s sister remembered her little brother as a boy who loved to play pranks.
“When I was younger, Steve would lock me in the basement and he would sing Freddy Krueger songs,” she said with a smile. “To this day, I always get nervous when I’m in a basement and there’s a boiler.”
It’s not known what caused Skipton cancer. However, a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) cancers of the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems are much more higher in firefighters.
“We will never know truly the extent of the injuries or diseases firefighters sustain. Far too many men and women are being lost to cancer,” spoke one man during Skipton’s funeral. “Please make
sure you wear your personal and protection equipment.”
After the memorial, the funeral procession began with numerous fire trucks leaving Summerville and heading toward St. James Avenue in Goose Creek.
During one touching moment, as the procession passed Stratford High School students lined the highway out of respect for the fallen hero. Friends and family eventually gathered at the main headquarters on Buttonhall Road for a reception in honor of Skipton. The loving father, husband and dedicated firefighter leaves behind a wife and four children.
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