In Memory of Rev. Marjorie “Midge” Skwire (December 20, 1936 – March 21, 2023)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Dr. Marjorie “Midge” Skwire, who died on March 21, 2023, at the age of 86.
Midge was born on December 20, 1936, in Lockport, New York to Melville Abram Small and Marion Truelson Small. She was the middle child and the only girl. When she was just two years old, the family moved to Cleveland, OH, where she grew up and ultimately returned to raise her own family.
Midge received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Biblical History, Literature, and Interpretation from Wellesley College in 1959. While in college, she joined the Unitarian club and became a vigorous student of religion. In 1960, she received her Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Thereafter she started her first career, teaching children and adults of all ages and levels of mental ability. She taught at the Walter E. Fernald School in Waltham, MA, participating in the care of individual students and working with psychological, medical, residential, and education staff members. Following that, she worked in the public school systems in Philadelphia and Cleveland, where she and her husband, David, relocated in 1965. Midge spent seven years as a teacher; during this time, she continued her independent studies in religion and committed herself to Unitarian Universalism both theologically and institutionally.
In 1965, Midge started volunteering at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River, a suburb on the west side of Cleveland. She volunteered at the church school as a teacher, department head, RE Committee chair, and member of the Board of Trustees until she was appointed Director of Religious Education in 1976. This was her true mission. Midge directed the church school, trained and supported teaching staff, and ministered to children and adults in the community. The teacher training course she developed established a strong corps of Sunday School teachers. She was respected and admired by the teachers and beloved by the children. She functioned as a part of the ministerial team and included the whole church in her thinking and work.
As Midge became deeply involved with the life of the church and its people, administration evolved into ministry. West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church ordained her to the Ministry of Religious Education on November 23, 1980. She served as a minister whose specialty was education and whose congregational focus was children and youth. Under the Rev. Skwire’s leadership, youth and adult education programs expanded, and adult and children’s worship services grew in scope and attendance. She worked with the social concerns group to foster more intergenerational activity and revitalize youth programs with summer “vacation schools” that explored Indigenous cultures, a “Spring Thing” program that offered a variety of creative classes, and the creation of the “Timeless Themes” curriculum about biblical stories, written for 3rd and 4th-grade students. The church was strengthened by the adult education classes that the Rev. Skwire conducted on her own and with a succession of parish ministers: the Rev. Dr. David H. Cole, the Rev. Michael McGee, and the Revs. Kathleen Rolenz and Wayne Arnason. She intensified and broadened her commitment to Religious Education in every possible way and helped foster those connections in others as a mentor to WSUUC interns and a broad network of young people in the ministry. In 1999, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Meadville Lombard Theological School. Ten years after her retirement in 2003, West Shore honored her as their minister emerita.
In addition to her ministry in Religious Education, the Rev. Dr. Skwire provided her services to the denomination as Chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) and sat on the board of the Meadville Lombard Theological School, serving as Chair from 2002 through 2005. She supported work for the Independent Study Committee, served as an Affirmative Action consultant, and provided in-service training for MRE candidates. She was also consistently involved with the Greater Cleveland church community as well as the local public schools.
Midge’s good cheer and calm reasonableness were infectious. She had a way with words, knew how to relieve tensions with humor, and was always a warm and understanding counselor. After retirement, Midge continued her dedication to education, teaching adult literacy courses and serving as a reading buddy to local elementary school children. She also loved cribbage, crossword puzzles, and summer trips to Maine. She became a competitive Scrabble player and enjoyed playing in clubs and at local and regional tournaments. She is particularly remembered for her use of stories and folk tales to convey a message.
Midge is survived by her husband, David Skwire; son Daniel Skwire (Denise M. Fogg); daughters Sarah Skwire and Jessica Routhier (Ray Routhier); brothers Richard Small (Rosemarie) and David Small; grandchildren Teddy, Abigail, Luke, Dinah, and Penelope; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as friends who are like family.
A memorial service was held at 2 pm on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd, Rocky River, OH 44116.
Memorial gifts may be made to
· West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church.
Notes of condolence can be sent to David Skwire, 74 Florentine Way, Olmsted Township, OH 44138.