By Jeff Lipton
Walter Patrick Skinner, an Allstate agent from East Meadow, paid her insurance bills, allowing her to concentrate on the more important matters at hand.
Skinner¹s compassion for others -- which he has displayed in many different arenas -- has prompted those who know him to describe him as a man with an outsized heart. And Skinner does his good deeds with little fanfare or publicity, preferring to work behind the scenes.
But it is his skills as a business leader and his passion for community work that separate Skinner, a lifelong resident of East Meadow, from the pack -- and that have earned him the Herald¹s 2007 Person of the Year award.
As a member of Kiwanis and the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, the 43-year-old has helped strengthen the area¹s commercial districts while reinforcing community pride. Two years ago he joined the East Meadow school board, bringing his strong business background with him. He also sponsors a Little League team, and is an assistant scoutmaster for his church in Hicksville.
Skinner does it all because of his love of community, not to add to the growing list of local causes on his resume, friends and business associates say. Richard M. Bivone, an East Meadow business owner and president of the Nassau Chambers of Commerce, described Skinner as a ³dynamic individual and proven leader.²
³He donates his time in helping people, which this community needs,² said Bivone, who has known the Skinner family for some 25 years. ³I think he¹s the epitome of leadership here. This is a person who volunteers his time to the community, as well as education, and makes sure our community moves on. He truly has a heart of gold.²
Skinner, who has run the Allstate office on Front Street -- known as the Skinner Agency -- for six years, has been a member of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce for a decade, including a stint last year as its president. He has taken a leading role in helping to spruce up East Meadow Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike, in order to make the business community more inviting.
³He has spearheaded quite a few opportunities in East Meadow,² said Christopher Hackert, who will assume the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce¹s presidency on Jan. 1. ³He's very effective and a very good leader.²
Hackert said he expects to call on Skinner to lead projects that will further spruce up the commercial districts. The beautification of East Meadow Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike includes plans for new sidewalks and lighting. "We now have a vision of working with the town on some storefront renovations," said Hackert.
Skinner has also been involved with Culinary Delights, inviting more than 30 local restaurants to prepare food for the community. The popular event, held at the Mirage in Westbury, has raised $13,000 for pediatric care at Nassau University Medical Center.
"He's very respected, very reliable, and will answer any question you need," said Rose Fruger, a chamber member who has known Skinner for 10 years. "And he's truly dedicated to the kids. He's also concerned about the community, the business community and the all-around welfare of East Meadow."
Skinner is involved in the community because, he says, "I live, work and play here in East Meadow. I grew up in East Meadow. I try to influence and make East Meadow better." He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus, and each summer he sponsors a PAL lacrosse team.
Somehow, Skinner still sets aside quality time with his wife, Kim, and their two sons, Cory, 13, and Kyle, 10. "He takes his sons bike-riding and fishing and goes camping with them," said Skinner's brother Jim, a former winner of the Herald¹s Person of the Year award himself.
"It's important to spend time with my family, and fortunately I can do this because most of my activities are at night," said Skinner, whose daily calendar is usually full from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. He explained that his office staff at Allstate has allowed him the flexibility to work on community projects. "The people are what make this a great community," he said. "We grew up here and want to stay here. We want our kids to grow up in the same neighborhood that we grew up in."
Gregory Peterson, a former Town of Hempstead supervisor who is now a partner in a Garden City law firm, said many business owners' bottom line is making money, but with Skinner the success of the community is paramount. "He does a lot, and sometimes I wonder how he gets it all done," said Peterson, a member of the East Meadow chamber for three decades who has known the Skinner family for several years. "It's nice to see someone that dedicated. And he does it all with a great sense of humor.
"It's refreshing to see someone like Walter, who finds time to keep giving back to the community without ever asking for anything in return."
Despite being a school board member for only two years, Skinner has been named chairman of its business committee, and has put his strong business sense to very good use.
"He loves East Meadow and he cares about the kids," said Leon Campo, superintendent of East Meadow Public Schools. "He's a board member with a pure heart. Walter is ... active in the community in charitable ways, and as a member of the school board, he is a very positive force in East Meadow. He has become a very effective board member. He really cares about the community, and you can tell."
Jim Skinner said that he and his brother were raised by their parents to be community-minded. Their father, Walter John Skinner, was a member of Kiwanis and other community groups. "We do what we've been taught," Jim Skinner said. "If something's going on in the community, my brother tries to get involved to make it a better place to live for everyone.
"He's a great role model and mentor," he added. "He's always been a very moral individual. People like that are hard to find. He's an all-around good person, a good human being. He's always thinking what he could do for everyone else. He has helped people who have had great difficulty in paying their bills."
Jim Skinner emphasized that his brother doesn't seek the limelight for his good deeds. He said he didn¹t find out about what his brother did for the woman battling cancer until much later. "He's very compassionate," Jim said.
Walter said he has always enjoyed being able to give back, which is the way he was raised. "I believe in what goes around, comes around," he said. "I would hope that someone would help me when I need it. I'm fortunate that I'm in a position that I can help someone."
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
