NYS Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados, 62 of Milton, died on Sunday, April 15 from pancreatic cancer at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. He is survived by his daughter Alyssa and brothers Russos and George.
Skartados was the seventh of eight children. He was born on the Greek island of Astypalaia. At age 14, on July 4, 1970, Skartados arrived in New York City with his mother. Skartados became a citizen on November 24, 1976. He graduated with honors from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in political science and went on to earn a master’s degree in international studies from the State University of California Sacramento. In 2000, he made a career change and devoted his life to renovating properties in downtown Poughkeepsie, including building the Aegean Entertainment Center, the largest entertainment venue between Albany and New York City. At the same time, he moved to a farm in Milton where he raised goats, sheep and chickens for pleasure.
Skartados’ next career move was to be elected to the New York State Assembly beginning January 2009. He temporarily lost the seat two years later by less than 20 votes. Then, in March 2012, he regained the office in a special election and has held it ever since, for a total of four-plus terms. Skartados’ district, the New York 104th, includes the cities of Newburgh, Beacon and Poughkeepsie and the towns of Newburgh, Marlborough and Lloyd.
A viewing for Skartados will take place at the DiDonato Funeral Services in Marlboro on Thursday, April 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, April 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A prayer service will take place on Friday, April 20 at 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
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