Nicholas Skovran

Nicholas Skovran of Cary, NC, passed away at the age of 96 on April 22, 2023. Nick was born in Summit Hill, PA, on January 3, 1927, to Anna (Papiyak) and Michael Skovran, immigrants from Austria-Hungary. Nicholas was the youngest of five brothers who served in WWII. After his discharge from the Army, Nicholas attended Penn State University, graduating with a BS (1950) and an MS (1952) in Mining Engineering, at a time when the mining industry was in steep decline. Nicholas moved to Washington, DC, and began working at the US Patent Office as a patent examiner while attending George Washington University Law School at night. He spent most of his adult working life as a patent attorney for the Remington Arms Co. in Bridgeport, CT. He was the Chief Patent Council when the Remington Arms Co. was absorbed by its parent company, du Pont de Nemours & Company. Nicholas took early retirement and moved to Raleigh, NC, in 1996. Nicholas is survived by his wife Anna and their three children: Nadine (Paul) Ham of Raleigh, NC; Nina (John, Sr.) Bilyeu of Clifton, VA; and Nicholas (Cheryl) Skovran of Waterbury, CT, as well as seven grandchildren, one great-grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Nicholas was predeceased by his parents and all six siblings. Nicholas was a lifelong member of the Russian Orthodox faith, and was active at the parish, diocesan, and national levels. Locally, he was a member of the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Morrisville, NC. Funeral services will be held at Holy Transfiguration on Wednesday, April 26, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Transfiguration Building Fund. Interment will be in St. Tikhon's Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA. Local arrangements are entrusted to Howell Family Funeral Home, Inc. Edward R. Howell, Funeral Director, 269 Belmont St. Waymart, PA 18472.