SHAMOKIN DAM — T. John Skotedis, 61, of 493 Victor Lane, passed away Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, with his loving wife and son by his side.

John was born June 27, 1951 in Batavia, N.Y. He married the former Denise Suzanne Adams, who survives him, a union of 34 years. They had one son, Alexander Theodore Skotedis, born Feb. 18, 1983.

John’s family relocated from Batavia in 1959 to Sunbury.

John graduated from Shikellamy High School in 1969. He attended Bucknell University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Temple University, Philadelphia.

Upon graduation from college, John joined the family business of Tedd’s Landing Restaurant. In 1989, the Tedd’s on the Hill banquet facility was added to the family’s business ventures. In July 2005, John, along with his wife and son, achieved their long-time vision of Skeeter’s Pit BBQ on the bluff above Tedd’s Landing. John’s dedication to the businesses was unwavering, with 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

John carried with him from his days at Temple University his passion for rowing. He made his first rowing boat and launched it in the Susquehanna River in 1973. Rowing became an integral part of John’s life and in some respects defined who he was as a man; it required patience, awareness and endless dedication.

From 1986-92, John served as the head coach of the Bucknell University Men’s and Women’s Crew program. Established in 1983, the program flourished under John’s leadership. With his guidance, the team successfully achieved varsity status in 1990, won its first championship medal in 1991 and had its first alumnus compete in the Olympics (Cindy Ryder in 1992). Most importantly, John’s leadership and friendship provided an invaluable life experience for those who rowed under him. John continued to be an integral part of supporting the development of rowing at Bucknell University, Susquehanna University as well as the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association.

John was a member of the Bucknell Golf Club and the “Shifty Group.”

John also had a keen interest in local history, including the Native American presence as well as the significance of the Susquehanna River and Pennsylvania Canal.

John had a great love for art, architecture, food, travel, family and friends, as well as his cabin on Pine Creek, recently built by himself, his son and wife. It was his respite, whether relaxing on the daybed on the screen porch listening to the rapids of Pine Creek, biking, hiking, kayaking or cross country skiing. … It held a special place in his heart.

John also enjoyed pontooning in the summer on the Susquehanna River, mostly enjoying the sunsets on the West Branch with his wife after a long day’s work at the restaurants.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his son and daughter-in-law, Alexander and Natalia Skotedis; his mother, Janet Skotedis; his brother, Thomas Skotedis; his sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Jeff Reed; in-laws, Bernadine and Jean-Paul Richard and Pasquale and Barbara Rescigno; brother and sisters-in-law, Craig and Shelly Adams, Jody and Laura Adams; and nieces and nephews, Thomas Skotedis and wife Karissa, Jessica and Sarah Reed, Crystal and Jason Skotedis, Whitney and Ryan Adams and Grant and Elijah Adams.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Victor T. Skotedis in 1997, and his father ,Theodore V. Skotedis in 2009.

A service celebrating the life of T. John Skotedis will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday in Rooke Chapel, Bucknell University, Lewisburg. The family will receive friends and acquaintances after the service at Tedd’s on the Hill.

A memorial website has been set up by the family: ilasting.com/John Skotedis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in John’s memory to one of the following organizations: Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association - CPRA, P.O. Box 21, Shamokin Dam, PA 17876, or T&D Cats, Wild Animal Refuge, P.O. Box 186, Penns Creek, PA 17862, or American Cancer Society - Cancer.org-donate.