Longtime Forum Member and Magazine Contributor Skip Natoli Passes

Tough news.  I did not know Skip personally, but I really enjoyed his contributions. Seemed like a great guy.  His NYC Christmas walking tour was an annual treat.

Sad news indeed.

RIP Skip.

Pete

Condolences to his family and friends.  Did a splendid job of sharing his passion for the hobby and life.

That is a sad

So sad to hear this. Skip was one of the good guys in this hobby. He will truly be missed. Condolences to his family.

Very sad news indeed.  Skip was a real passionate model railroader.  My sincere condolences to his family and friends.  

Oh my. That is so sad.  He was such a great guy. We will miss him and his posts.

Expletive!!!

Man, I had thumbed through one of Skip's recent runs. Dang.

While I ran into Skip, we only knew each other through a few emails back and forth about various New York Central engines. During 2019's York week, I had gone out to Strasburg for 611 and I got there extremely early(I think they had finished cleaning all the cars for the day's run). Well, Skip and friends(as well as some of our OGR colleagues) were anxiously waiting for the morning to begin with cab tours and whistle blowing. Skip was actually behind me but since he had the cab tour and I only a whistle blow, his group and others were moved ahead.

I did manage to snap a quick pic of him which I think I had popped on here on another topic(I'll find it tonight and repost). I also believe that one of the whistle blows I recorded via video is his groups.

I really wish I got to know Skip better. I know through one of our correspondences he had gotten busy in baseball(little league I think). He had been off the forum for a bit and that was what he had said he was busy with.

I know that we will all miss his smile that was seen at York by all. New York Central Hudson's all the way Skip, R.I.P.

Very sorry to hear this news about Skip.I always enjoyed seeing him at the TCA meets and talking about the hobby with him.RIP Skip.

WOW!

OMG. God bless him and his family.

Sad to hear.  Condolences to his friends here and to his family.

Very sad news. May God & Jesus be with Skip as well as his family and friends.

Very sad.  Skip was a great guy

Skip's Christmas images always got me into the Christmas Spirit.

Condolences to his family.

I always enjoyed his NYC Christmas "Walking Tour" threads.  Prayers and condolences to his family.  RIP Skip...

Andy

It really hurts losing a friend like Skip from this forum family. My sincere condolences to Skip’s family and all his friends.

Always had great conversations at Trainstock over the years with Skip. He had such a strong passion for our hobby.
My condolences to his family.

I have been on the phone as well as the keyboard discussing this horrible news all morning.  Frankly ... I am in shock as many of you are/were when you heard of his passing.  I echo Allan Miller's comments above ... Skip was one of those guys that you couldn't help but like.  He was a beacon for this hobby and of course a kindred spirit when it comes to layout themes.  Skip and I had several conversations about our urban themed layouts and always made a point to visit each other at York.  He was a top contributor to O Gauge Railroading Magazine with his inspiring Christmas scenes which received tons of wonderful comments from thousands of readers who enjoyed his articles.

We have lost another one of the "great ones" in this hobby which is so sad.  We will miss you so much my Friend ....

Very sorry to hear this. I had worked with Skip (we both dicussed a section of the former New York Central's Putnam Division) on the "Walk The Put" DVD that accompanied one of Joe Schiavone's "The Old Put " series books. He was truly a nice guy.

Condolences to his family. RIP.

Tom

Condolences to Skip' s family and friends.

Skip = Christmas in NYC.

An absolute gentleman. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.

My condolences to his family.

Mat

Yes, Skip contributed so much to the hobby, a true ambassador of our hobby. I met him at York one year and we hit it off just fine. May the Lord be with his family.

Very sorry to hear this news. I always enjoyed seeing Skip's New York Central posts on the Forum.

MELGAR

So sorry to hear this, I've met Skip a few times, and he always had a smile on his face.  My condolences to his family and friends of which he had many.

That is really awful.  I bumped into him once when we were in line for a cab tour on 611.  Nice guy - infectious enthusiasm for trains - and he didn't strike me as particularly old.  What a shame.

Another reminder that life is short and needs to be focused on important things - friends, family - and nothing petty.  

Sincere condolences to his family and prayers that he rests in peace.

I am so sorry to learn of his passing.  I greatly enjoyed his New York City walking tour threads for the Christmas season - he brought "Christmastime in the city" to life with his enthusiasm and well researched and well thought-out recommendations.  With the cheer and energy that typified his writings, he always seemed youthful.  My condolences to his family and friends.   

Thank you @NJCJOE for posting the video of Skip singing "yesterday".  What a voice and guitar!    I always wanted to meet Skip, was hoping to get to NY at some point and invite him to lunch (Italian of course).  Such a great loss to us on the Forum.   

Deepest condolences to his family and friends, 

My condolences to his family.

@NJCJOE posted:

Priceless!  Thank you for sharing that Joe.

Too bad…nice guy. I talked with him a few times at York.

I will be praying for him, and his family,

RIP Skip.

Such sad news.  My prayers and condolences go out to Skip, his family and friends.  His passing leaves an empty place in the hearts of all who knew him.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at Trainstock once.  Of course the conversation started out about trains then naturally went to Christams and the Walking Tour and quickly became two Bronx kids talking about family, friends and growing up in the northwest Bronx.  Even though we didn't know each growing up we shard so many of the same memories it seemed as if we did.

God rest your soul Skip and keep you in his presence.

So sad to hear God bless!

OMG! Im in total shock! I remember Skip with the Bear Mountain train displays in the mid to late 1970's, talking about the elusive Maerkin "Swiss Air" layout and my time with him at the Bergen Co. Model RR club back at the "Turn of the Century"

Wow! God Bless and those TW layouts IMHO was retirement money well spent esp for his short time in retirement!

Very sad news, I always enjoyed his contributions to this forum and others.  My sincere condolences to all who knew him.

So sorry to hear this, I always enjoyed Skips post's and photo's.  My condolences to Skip's family and friends.  Godspeed Skip.

Rest in Peace Skip

What a shock..........Skip was a passionate fan of the New York Central and model railroading. He also was a fan of the the Putman Division and we spent many times in the past discussing the Central's "quaint lost division". His passion for Christmas and all things New York City will be missed.....I am in shock!

Peter

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.