Posted on 03/08/2019
Steven G. Skinner | 1962-2019
Steven G. Skinner passed away on Feb. 12, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Sept. 26, 1962, in Monmouth, to Lyle and Frances (Norris) Skinner.
Steven was educated in the Monmouth Public Schools system in Illinois. He graduated from Monmouth High School in 1980 with honors. He was inducted into the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1984 with a bachelor of science in economics. Steven pursued graduate study at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and acquired an MBA in economics, strategy, and marketing in 1998.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Steven spent a total of 19 years in the United States Navy. The first five years he was on active duty as the weapons officer onboard the USS Reuben James. Additionally, he spent 14 years as a Naval Reserve officer and was active as a Blue and Gold Officer essential in guiding young men and women to careers at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Steven was an impactful and successful business leader who earned many professional awards and honors. He was named as Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants in 2015, received the Cognizant CEO Leadership Award, the IBM Golden Circle Award, and the Monmouth College Hall of Achievement Award. Steven’s exceptional business career spanned several decades with executive positions at Fortune 500 companies. These included positions such as an IBM principal, partner at Accenture, Home Depot vice president for merchandising and operations, Microsoft Worldwide Solutions general manager for worldwide industry solutions, and, most recently, Cognizant senior vice president for digital transformation global.
His successful impact in the business world was also reflected in his impact on others in his personal world. Steven had the most amazing personality; thus, many words can be used to describe him. He was humorous, generous, humble, innately kind, which included numerous random acts of kindness, empathetic with boundless energy and had a tremendous enthusiasm for life. Also, he was extremely proud of being an award-winning golfer at a pro-am tournament in California. He loved sports, especially the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs teams, and coached his children in their younger years in basketball and soccer. Steven was an avid traveler who visited more than 45 countries and 48 states.
Finally, Steven’s greatest achievement was as a loving husband, father, and son. Steven is survived by his wife, Lisa (Stephenson) Skinner; sons, Andrew and Joey Skinner; and daughter, Sarah Skinner, all of Atlanta. He is also survived by his parents, Lyle and Frances Skinner of Hampton, Virginia, and formerly of Monmouth; and siblings, sisters Jacqueline (Maurice) Jackson of Silver Spring, Maryland, Marlise (Alex) Lawrence of Richmond, Virginia, and Cheryl (Kenny) Rolon of Hampton, Virginia, and brother Andre Skinner (Kay) of Akron, Ohio. There are also numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who are part of his extended family.
Steven was preceded in death by his oldest son, Steven Gregory Skinner II; his paternal grandparents, Frederick Arthur and Velma Mae (Doss) Skinner of Monmouth; and maternal grandparents, McKinley and Nora (Turner) Norris of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Monmouth, respectively.
Funeral and committal services, followed by a reception, will be Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be directed to the Steven G. Skinner Fund for the Benefit of Glioblastoma Research at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. The address is 1440 Clifton Road, Suite 170, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Daily Review Atlas
18 February 2019