SHAMOKIN DAM -- A well-known businessman from Snyder County has died.
John Skotedis passed away Monday after a battle with cancer.
If you drive by where Route 15 meets Route 11 in Snyder County, and it's hard to miss two restaurants that have been on the corner for years.
Tedd's Landing has been a landmark for 50 years, and above it is Skeeter's Pit BBQ. Both places are the legacy of the late John Skotedis who lost his battle with cancer Monday.
"His dream was seen, he did live his dream, unfortunately it was cut a little short," said Alexander Skotedis.
Skotedis talked with Newswatch 16 about his father's long-held vision of building a barbecue restaurant with a view.
The result was Skeeter's overlooking the Susquehanna River and serving up its popular barbecue meals.
"You could tell he really cared and put his heart into it, it showed," said patron Myron Deetz.
Not only will Skotedis be remembered for carrying on the family's restaurant business but for helping the sport of rowing to catch on here on the Susquehanna River way back in the 1980's.
"John was rowing in the area, he brought rowing to the river here," said Bucknell University's rowing coach Stephen Kish.
Skotedis helped get the program off the ground. The sport then grew from a handful of people rowing to hundreds of rowers now.
"John will be missed by hundreds of rowers in the community as well as others, and it's a big loss to all of us," added Kish.
Funeral services for John Skotedis will be held this weekend.
He was 61 years old.