John Nick Skimas, age 93, passed away on March 14, 2025.  He was born August 1, 1931, in Camas, Washington.  His birth surname was Skamnias. John graduated from Camas High School in 1949 where he lettered in three sports.  He attended Willamette University on a football scholarship where he also played baseball.  He enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 during the Korean Conflict and became a Russian cryptographer.  He later earned his wings as a navigator/bombardier assigned to B-29 aircraft serving in Europe.  While in the Air Force, he obtained his B.S. degree from the University of Maryland global program.  Upon leaving the Air Force in 1956 John attended Willamette University College of Law.  He also served in the Oregon National Guard for nine years as a radar intercept officer in F-89 aircraft, attaining the rank of major.

During the summer of 1958 John saw a beautiful girl, JoAnne Henriksen (Miss Clark County), on a float during the Camas Days celebration. They were married for 59 years.  John began the practice of law in Vancouver in 1960.  During his early practice he served as part time city attorney for Vancouver, on the Vancouver Marine Parks Commission, Vancouver Aviation Commission, special assistant attorney general, Federal Appeals agent and president of the Clark County Bar Association. He helped form Southwest Washington Alcohol Recovery Foundation and incorporated the association for mentally disadvantaged persons (RCA).  John also enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts, Columbia Little League, Columbia Youth Soccer, and had been a member of the American Legion, Kiwanis, and the Elks.

In 1971, John was appointed to the Clark County Superior Court where he served 21 years.  During his judicial tenure, he was invited to sit on the Washington Supreme Court and the Appellate Court.  John was actively involved in Washington Judicial matters serving as Dean of the Washington Judicial College, chair of the Judicial Information System, the Washington Appellate Indigent Defense Commission and the Washington weighted caseload study, president of the Superior Court Judges Association and Vice Chair of the Board of Judicial Administration.  He also served as chair of the 911 Clark County EMS Administrative Board for 9 years.  Following his retirement, John continued his affiliation with the law as a mediator and arbitrator hearing over 1500 cases.  John was also an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Portland, serving several years on the parish council.

John's wife, JoAnne, predeceased him in 2018.  He is survived by his children, Kathryn and J. Nick, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Memorials can be made to:

https://www.campangelos.org/donations
A.H.E.C. /Camp Angelos
3131 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97232

Hellenic-American Museum of Oregon & SW Washington
https://hellenicamericancc.org
3131 NE Glisan St.
Portland, Oregon 97232

Salvation Army
https://vancouver.salvationarmy.org/vancouver_us_west/
1500 N.E. 112th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington 98684