This is shocking to hear. I always enjoyed talking to Skip over the years whether it be at York, the club or visiting the layout of a mutual friend. I think we talked more about baseball than we did trains. He was a great guy and will be missed.
-Greg
I am in shock reading this, such a great guy! My sincerest condolences to his family.
Miketg
I’ve already posted a message, but I returned to hear his singing, and what a great voice he had…Thanks for posting this video. RIP….
Never had the pleasure of meeting Skip but his warmth and friendliness always seemed to shine through his posts and especially his NYC Walking Tours. I was born in Brooklyn (US Navy Hospital) but was whisked away pretty quickly as my Dad was sent to the Pacific in late 1944. As a boy, I wished we lived in NY as I wanted to see the Lionel and American Flyer layouts and other things the city offered as I got older.
Skip's love of the city was apparent and I enjoyed some of the comments he would make in his posts. Lord bless your family and our prayers go out to them. Thanks Skip for many memories!
Condolences to the family.
John
Sincere condolences to his family and friends. I enjoyed his Christmas time contributions to OGR.
@Rider Sandman posted:Tough news. I did not know Skip personally, but I really enjoyed his contributions. Seemed like a great guy.
I echo this sentiment. Very sad to hear this.
@Jerryrails posted:Skip Natoli was not only one of my best friends but one of the most wonderful human beings I ever met. We have been buddies for over twenty years. Many know him as a passionate railroader, others know him as an amazing guitar aficionado, still more know him as a Yankee fan. My wife and I have been blessed to know him as a great human being. He was an administrator of the New York welfare system where countless people benefitted from his caring and compassion. If you had a train gathering, Skip made it sparkle, if you loved music, Skip made it much more fun, if you loved the yankees, Skip would proudly wear his satin Yankee jacket. More than anything on earth, Skip loved his children. He spoke of them constantly and adored walking the streets of New York City Holiday time with them and sharing the photos with us.
It is the nature of life to love and suffer loss. If we did not love greatly, we would not be so mournful when those we enjoy so much are taken from us. My wife and I will be life long beneficiaries because we knew Skip. He'll be with us every day in one form or another. Toot the whistles tonight for Skip Natoli.
Jerry, thanks for sharing your stories about Skip. Very touching. Skip is a great role model for us. My deepest sympathy to you.
The place, Strasburg PA, October 18th, 2019, 9:13AM waiting for things to get going with N&W 611.
I remember getting to Strasburg bright and early, 7:46 the first shot I took says. I don't remember seeing Skip walking around with some of the other folks that got there earlier, but I do remember when the line had started to form(before we found out cab tours would be going first), someone laughed behind me which came from Skip's group. A smile on his face, just like most of us had usually seen. I really wish I had bought the cab tour back then, I should have talked with him but alas.
So, that is not it. A few days later, October 20th, 2019, just after noon I'll say at the New Jersey HiRailers Party for the 50th Anniversary of OGR Magazine. I had actually been behind Skip about 5 feet or so before ducking under the cameras so I could get some shots in the back.
Definitely not the best shot(as Skip's eyes are closed) but preferably to the back of his head.
I always loved seeing Skip's layout in the magazine or pictures posted here or elsewhere on the web. Some of the topics he posted(or started) I would always get my nose in even if it was something like some of the old places in New York City that I haven't heard of. People like Skip just captured your attention with the topic at hand.
A great example, New York City Walking Tour
Skip will be greatly missed, my condolences to his family and friends.
Rich is right, he could get you in the Christmas spirit just like that.
I am going over to Tall Building Tuesday, which Skip started and where I have not posted in some time. See what I can find. Here's to you Skip.
I didn`t know him personaly, but always enjoed his articles in OGR, may he rest in peace and our condolences to his family
So sad to hear this. Skip was such a lovely bloke. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. From Dave in Australia.
Angela and myself are deeply saddened upon hearing of Skip’s passing. He was a good friend. We spent many hours at York talking trains and Angela’s paintings. He will be missed by many people. Our thoughts go out to his family at this sad time.
Angela and Bob Thomas
I am so sad to read of Skip's passing! I think I saw him online recently. I never met him in person, but always enjoyed his posts and articles. May God bless his family and close friends at this time!
So sorry to read this. Though I never met him, I enjoyed his posts, especially those related to the NYC. Condolences and prayers to his family- he will be missed.
Here is one of his threads that I enjoyed in particular and generated a lot of participation from the NYC fans: NYC Classics .
@PRR8976 posted:
Thank you, Tom. 😢
I also didn't know him personally. But skip, like a lot of the guys, I almost felt I know. He brought an energy to The forum that a lot due and have. Especially around christmas. I will miss his posts
I am very sorry to read this sad news. My condolences to Skip's family.
Skip and I corresponded a few years ago regarding his extensive knowledge of the early rail lines along the west side of Manhattan. His enthusiasm for the splendor of NY City's Christmas wonders was contagious, inspiring my wife and I to take his grand "walking" tour some years ago. More recently, I've been working on a living room Christmas display, only the woodwork at this point, and I've been using the OGR spreads of Skip's cheerful Dept. 56 and his magnificent NY City layouts for ideas. As I am typing this, I cannot believe he has passed away.
I’m in total shock hearing and reading this thread. Taken from us way too young. Skip and I always conversed at York and at the NJ Hirailers open houses. A true NYC expert whose layout was featured in the OGR magazine a few times.
The NYC Commodore Vanderbilt and the NYC Mohawk are on the garage floor lines dedicated to our friend, Skip.
My condolences to his family. He will be missed by all.
So sad to read of Skips passing, rest in peace.
Sad, we've lost another nice guy
RIP
Shocked and saddened. Skip was the best. As fellow New York City kids, we hit it off right away when we met through the hobby. He was a great modeler, passionate Yankee fan, devoted family man, and lover of all things Christmas, particularly trains!
My condolences to his family.
Jim
I think it was on the Tall Building Tuesday topic that he started that he and I were bouncing back and forth about the Empire State Building. The top of the building was to have a docking port for blimps which some of you may know. Skip had popped I think some of the plans as well as some pictures, all with the description of what it was going to be like. I don't remember if it was deemed too much or if the B-24 crashing into the ESB nixed it for sure. Either way, it was a delight to read Skip's information on the building and the blimps.
So sorry to hear this. We should have longer time to keep running our trains and sharing this hobby with others, as Skip always did.
RIP Skip. Make sure to convert St. Peter to O gauge.
@NJCJOE posted:
Thanks to NJCJOE for posting this video of Skip singing "Yesterday." I am posting it again here in the event some folks didn't see it on the previous page.
Clear block to Heaven Skip.
So sad to hear of Skip's passing! I did not know him personally, but from all the stuff I have read about him and his post here on the forum shows that he was one heck of a guy! May he rest in peace and prayers out to his family and friends!
I am sorry to hear of Skip's passing. I also did not know him but I enjoyed his posts here on the forum. You could tell he had a real passion for trains both the prototype and model. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Always sad to lose a member of the community, condolences to the family.
@PRR8976 posted:
Thanks. Im going to make it a point to make it to the viewing tomorrow.
So sorry to hear this. I always loved reading his posts and his layout articles. Deepest condolences to his family.
Very sad news. One of the best of the best for sure.
Bob
So sorry to hear the news. Condolences to his family.
We're going to miss him dearly
Mike
That's sad news. I liked Skip's articles a lot! Seemed like a great guy! Best wishes to his family.
dorfj2,
Thanks so much for posting that video !!
@Jerryrails posted:dorfj2,
Thanks so much for posting that video !!
Agree! that is true joy to see Skip enjoying the experience of blowing the whistle. He was a true pro.
I just attended the first viewing of Skip at the funeral home.
Lots..and I MEAN LOTS of pictures of skip and family but a bunch of skip and Lionel trains, skip and the 1:1 as well.
Apparently he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder a few weeks ago and just started treatments when the Lord ultimately had other plans.
At this time I believe Skip is the engineer of the Twentiety Century Ltd. Head to a Yankee game in Chicago.
God Speed Skip! Thank you for the model train memories at the shows, the club, and the Bear Mountain Lodge Christmas displays decades ago.
He Loved the NYC!
Center photo of the Grand Central Terminal Transit museum TW Christmas Display
Bergen Co model RR club Pearl River NY show.
Choo choo barn.
Photos taken by me of family photos of Skips past.
Very sad news. Skip actually took all the photos of my layout when it was featured in OGR magazine. He was a great guy and loved his trains ! He will be missed, rest in peace ! 🙏🏻
Alex
So sorry to hear of Skip's passing. RIP.
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