Frank K. Skartados, 62, of Milton
MILTON, N.Y. » Frank K. Skartados, 62, a well-respected and popular NYS Assemblyman, died on Sunday, April 15, 2018, from pancreatic cancer at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.
He is survived by his loving daughter, Alyssa, and brothers, Russos and George (and wife Tina), both living in the United States. Other surviving family members are in Greece. Frank is also survived by his beloved inlaws Myrna, Selma, Matt, Nivia and Rodrigo.
Frank Skartados was the seventh of eight children. He was born on the Greek island of Astypalaia. At age 14, on July 4, 1970, Frank arrived in New York City with his mother. Frank became a citizen on Nov. 24, 1976. He graduated from George Washington High School in upper Manhattan. He later worked in the restaurant industry and eventually owned one. His business savvy eventually allotted him the funds to educate himself at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Frank graduated with honors and a degree in Political Science. At the same time, he worked at the Commandant’s Office of the New York Military Academy in Cornwall, N.Y. Skartados went on to achieve a master’s degree in International Studies at the State University of California at Sacramento. He later served an internship at the United Nations Center Against Apartheid. For the next eight years, he returned to the New York Military Academy to serve as chairman of the Health Department. He was also a teacher of Environmental Studies and American History. In 2000, he made a career change and devoted his life to renovating properties in downtown Poughkeepsie, including building the Aegean Entertainment Center, the largest entertainment venue between Albany and New York City. At the same time Frank moved to a farm in Milton, N.Y., where he raised goats, sheep, and chickens for pleasure.
Frank Skartados’ next career move was to be elected to the New York State Assembly beginning January 2009. He temporarily lost the seat two years later by less than 20 votes. Then, in March 2012, Frank regained the office in a special election and has held it ever since, for a total of fourplus terms. Skartados’ district, the New York 104th, is in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and includes the cities of Newburgh, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie and the towns of Newburgh, Marlborough, and Lloyd. Frank was proud to have the only district in New York whose cities and towns all border the Hudson River. As a result, he focused his attention on the Hudson’s environmental protection, and helped to fund the creation of several riverside parks and trails. In addition, he secured numerous grants to lower school and municipal taxes by investing in equipment, infrastructure, workforce housing and libraries. Frank’s popularity grew as he was elected by large majorities ranging from sixty to eighty percent of the vote. He was best known for his humble demeanor and for giving passionate speeches on issues such as education reform, support of immigrants and worker rights.
Viewing will take place at the DiDonato Funeral Services in Marlboro, N.Y., located at 1290 Route 9W on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, April 20, 2018, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Prayer Service will take place on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Carl J. DiDonato, Jr., of the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc. (845)236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com