William Skerlong

Noted violinist, businessman and teacher, William Louis Skerlong, age 88, of Fairview, died on Monday October 19, 2015 at home. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on January 17, 1927, a son of the late Mary Gorshin and Louis Skerlong.

Upon graduation from high school, Bill served in the Army during World War II where he participated in the original Army Ground Forces Combat Infantry Band and played with many accomplished musicians. He graduated from Oberlin College Conservatory in 1951 and started his career with the Baltimore Symphony. He had a long career in music retail in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago culminating in the Vice Presidency at Lyon and Healy in Chicago. He returned to his violin roots with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony and Pittsburgh Opera Ballet Orchestra until his retirement from performing in 2013.

He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Erie Philharmonic Board of Governors. He initiated a quartet in residence at Mercyhurst College where, for a brief time, he was a faculty member. He remained highly invested in his violin students, giving his last lesson days before his death.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Claudia; his two children Paul (Karen) Skerlong, of Akron, OH and Kate (Brian) Weber of Fairview; and his five grandchildren Michael and Jennifer Skerlong, and Maxwell, Ethan, and Madeline Weber. He is further survived by his brother Richard (Patricia) Skerlong of Seattle, WA and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on the family on Thursday from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm at Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th St. (at Powell Ave.) and to attend a memorial service on Friday October 23 at 11am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1002 Powell Ave., Erie, PA 16505 with Vicar Heidi Cowey and Hospice Spiritual Care Coordinator Michael Kuvshinikov co-officiating.

Memorials may be made to Erie Philharmonic, 609 Walnut St., Erie, PA 16502 or Erie Chamber Orchestra, 109 University Sq., Erie, PA 16541.