Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp’d tow’rs, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.From Shakespeare’s The Tempest
I had seen M. Scot Skinner’s name in print long before I met him. For years he wrote theater reviews for the Arizona Daily Star, and I probably read all of them. He was quick to praise and equally quick to give a thrashing to a production that missed the mark. He was always fun to read.
Not too long ago he couldn’t even bring himself to review a show he was to write about for the Weekly, a show he called “up a fake creek without a paddle.” He wrote, “There’s no way I’m going to review what I’m seeing right now. Who wants to be the mean old man with nothing better to do than slam the hard work of a serious-minded playwright and four actors who are probably kind and decent people? Not me.” So quite cleverly, he did review the show.
I got to know Scot in a more personal way through my partner, Mary Kate Cooney, who was a copy editor at the Star for years. She had taken him under her wing when he switched from reviewing to the copy desk. In May 2014, when he heard that she had entered hospice because her body had had enough of ovarian cancer’s malicious tomfoolery, he wrote in a Facebook post:
“When I was suddenly reassigned to the Arizona Daily Star copy desk in 2002, I had so much to learn and my long-suffering teacher was Mary Cooney. I was a difficult student in every way, but she sighed and kept at it. I owe her so much. As of tonight, my smart and funny friend is in hospice care at TMC’s Peppi’s House. How I wish we could have one more cheese crisp together at El Minuto.”
She’s waiting for you Scot. I hope El Minuto delivers to the great hereafter.
M. Scot Skinner passed on Sunday, April 3 after complications resulting from a bacterial infection. He was a great talent and an even greater human being. He will be truly and deeply missed in the theatre and writing communities, as well as the Tucson community at large. Information regarding services for Scot is forthcoming.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2016.
Thanks for writing this, sherilyn. I had the absolute honor and pleasure of working with scot and Mary on a small features copy desk. It was the dream team. I learned so much from them. My heart is heavy.
He taught me how to write, how to laugh at my mistakes. Shit he was cool.
We met at a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show around 1981. He was wonderful wonderful wonderful.
This was a beautiful write up on Scot thank you for your care and for selecting the quote from the tempest a favorite of mine and Scots. The pic I believe was taken as Scot napped on a train I believe it was in Istanbul when he went exploring one summer…..He would be honored.
Dear Scot Skinner: I used to sit with you in the TNI cafeteria and have lunch with you and talk with you about movies, restaurants, nightclubs, bands and concerts. You were interesting and intelligent. Your insights were brilliant and eloquent. I never knew you were gay until you told us about it last year on Facebook. It didn’t matter whether you were gay or straight — you were just nice, honest, interesting, intriguing and way cool. Have a great time in Heaven with Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Lemmy Kilmister, Jeff Smith, Chuck Bowden, Peter Steele, Alvin Lee and Jack Bruce. I know you are having a blast up there right now. — Love, Mark Ochs
A perfectly lovely tribute on an incredibly sad day. Thank you for the beautiful words, Sherilyn.
I knew Scott for years.How dearly I remember watching the fireworks from his house in the foothills. I am heartbroken.
I grew up with Scot as did my sister Kathryn –such a lovely tribute –thank you!
I’ve had the privilege of calling him “step brother” for over 20 years. I appreciate you sharing your brief, yet special interaction with Scot. Thank you. It’s difficult to imagine facing holidays and family gatherings without him there to fill the room with humor and joy. What a loss this is for all who know him.
I worked with Scot at the Wildcat in the mid-80s, and watched him grow as a journalist through the years. What a pleasure to cross paths even for a brief time with such a pro — a guy who knew the business but also knew the importance of finding a life outside the newsroom. He was among a small group of young men and women who attended the UA around that time who would go on to do the industry proud.
I met Scot when I had the coveted Police Beat section at the Wildcat back in 1983, which wasn’t really coveted. Every one knew I was a greenhorn, except me. Scot sat in the “cool” corner with all the other artsy writers like Jeff and Gene. Scot was quiet, which made me all the more curious and suspicious. I learned a lot that year: What a talented writer Scot was, that his quick wit took no prisoners, that he surrounded himself with the most delightful friends and he had the most wonderful smile. I also learned NOT to ask him what the “M” stood for. But I know… Blessed.
The days bawdy sunset remains
And the potholes of 22nd Street
still swallow the naive
The miracle mile fades in fame
A-mountain sleeps with one less name
Quietly, time chronicals
the people and the pueblos passing
RIP Scot. You will be missed by all. Give ’em hell up there!Just be careful who you critique.
I always knew which son Betsy was on the phone with, with Lee in DC she would continually be laughing. She and Scot would be knee deep in politics interspersed with laughing. Her boys, the joy of her life. Scot’s ability to care and give to people of all stripes, be they in prison or on the street. Being able to always reach out a helping hand while at the same time completely disregarding himself. Life with Scot was both a loving and madding one, living on the edge was just his style. There was not much middle ground and he lived the hell out of his life.
Thanks for giving me my first writing gig, Scot, and then for giving me your job when you moved on. I’m still following that path. Fair way to you on yours.
Does one have to be friends of of the TW staff in order to get a blog post written about their demise?
Why hasn’t the TW written ANYTHING about the passing of Bunny Fontana who died last Saturday????
He made a huge mark upon Southern AZ with his 40 years of teaching at the U of A and his massively succesful book on Mission San Xavier del Bac titled “A Gift of Angels”.
I guess you have to have personal friendships with the TW staff in order to get an obituary.
Disgraceful.
@Danehick Six:
Merl Reagle and Garry Shandling have also died within the last year. Considering that both of them had roots in Tucson and taking into account their contributions to the entertainment world, no acknowledgement from TW almost seems disrespectful. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of seeing their efforts as being less important than others or if they just weren’t paying attention; either way, these men were deserving of a little bit of attention in a publication that is supposed to be all about Tucson.
I don’t feel that these omissions are necessarily disgraceful, but they are definitely neglectful.
Danehick Six!
Sorry for butchering your handle Danehick Sux.
I REALLY HATE auto correcting programs!
AZ/DC ~ You have a point, all are successful people with Tucson ties.
But Bunny Fontana spent his entire adult/professional life here in Tucson (close to 60 years). And, his contribution to not only the culture of Tucson through his landmark book about San Xavier del Bac but also his impact and mentoring of hundreds of local students is immeasurable.
He was THE expert on Sant Cruz river valley anthropological history and his imprint will live on for generations. I stand by my original post and the use of the term disgraceful.
Respectfully, Danehick Sux
Amen Danehick Sux, amen.