JOHN CHESLEY “CHES” SKINNER passed away on Sunday, June 18 at the age of 78. His family was his greatest priority, including his wife, Betty; their three children: Daniel (Zachary), Christopher (Hannah) and Nancie “Baz” (Sheri); and his extended family from Newfoundland as well as his chosen family throughout the world, particularly in Malaysia and Nepal. He was a surrogate grandfather to many and will be guiding his first grandchild with profound love when he is born later this summer. He was well known for his cooking skills, his sense of humour, his love of reading, music and coffee shops and especially for his kindness to students and others needing support. Ches was a brother to the Blackfoot people and was honoured with the name Ikkina'pipiita, meaning gentle eagle, a reflection of his character.
Ches was a proud Newfoundlander, born in Richard's Harbour to Ephriam & Winnifred on November 3, 1944, he was the youngest sibling of Edna, Effie, Becky & Ephriam. Having been orphaned at an early age, he was adopted and raised by his uncle and aunt, George and Mary. He studied for his undergraduate degrees in arts and education at Memorial University, He studied at the Banff School of the Arts and the Royal Shakespeare Institute and received a master’s from Illinois State University. He completed a PhD at Michigan State, spending summers in Ann Arbor and doing field research to support his dissertation on Newfoundland folk drama.
Ches proved to be a good fit for ULethbridge’s new drama program and his initial one-year appointment became permanent. He joined the University of Lethbridge in 1976 as a professor in the Department of Drama. In 1978, Ches directed his first play at ULethbridge — Jack Heifner’s Vanities. Thirty years later, To Kill a Mockingbird was his 20th and final production at the University. Whether he was in the classroom or the rehearsal hall, his love of teaching was ever present and that allowed his students to achieve their fullest potential.
Ches spent his entire career working in theatre, teaching theatre history and directing plays in the U.S., Canada and abroad. He was a critical component of the development and growth of the University's drama department. He was passionate about performance and education and that helped to build one of the strongest BFA/BEd programs in the country. In his final ten years at the University of Lethbridge (1999-2009) he served as Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Retirement in 2010 brought new opportunities overseas in Malaysia, where he spent 11 happy years teaching at UiTM and ASWARA.
Ches was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 meeting of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research.
Sources:
Cornerstone Funeral Home - Obituary of John "Ches" Skinner
Condolence Notice — Professor Emeritus Ches Skinner | Notice Board (ulethbridge.ca)