性视界传媒

鈥淵ou just wanted to follow him,鈥� said Jim Strawn, a longtime friend of Skaff and a community leader.鈥� His legacy will continue to run throughout this state, this valley and this town. It was wide and it was deep.

鈥淗e helped so many people, directly and indirectly. I鈥檓 here to tell you, I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l ever know the vast depth he had. I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l ever know what he did for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of West Virginians. You鈥檙e not going to find a better servant.鈥�

Skaff, a former state delegate and the president of HD Media, which publishes the 性视界传媒-Mail, died Tuesday in a vehicle crash in Lewis County. He was 48.

West Virginia State Police responded at about 4 p.m. to a two-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of Interstate 79 near the 101-mile marker, according to a WVSP news release. Upon arrival, Cpl. George Jones observed heavy damage to an SUV. "It appeared the car had rear ended a tractor-trailer as the truck was traveling up a hill," according to the release.

'Optimistic and forward-thinking'

Strawn said he first met Skaff more than two decades ago. In the years since, the two served together on countless boards for local nonprofit organizations, including, at one time, the Roark Sullivan Lifeway Center, which helps veterans and other men experiencing homelessness.

Strawn said he admired Skaff鈥檚 鈥渄eep-rooted commitment to charity work.鈥�

鈥淗e and I worked on endless projects together to raise money for people who were less fortunate than he and I,鈥� Strawn said. 鈥淗e did a lot of things without bringing attention to himself. His time and talents, he just gave them. He grinded so much behind the scenes, and he did it with a smile on his face. I鈥檝e never met anyone as optimistic and forward-thinking.

鈥淗e welcomed everyone into his circle, whether they were bank presidents or the guy in need of a dollar. He listened to people. And he had an ability to make everybody feel like they were the only person he was talking to.鈥�

Skaff represented the 57th District, which includes his hometown of South Charleston, as a Democrat in the West Virginia Legislature on two separate occasions totaling nearly 11 years. In 2020, Skaff was selected as House minority leader, a position he held until stepping down from the post in August 2023. He resigned from his seat in the House a month later.

After switching parties in October 2023, Skaff launched a campaign for secretary of state. He was defeated in the Republican primary in May 2024.

Doug Reynolds, managing partner of HD Media and Skaff's longtime friend, described him as 鈥渁n incredible rarity.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e known Doug for 25, 26 years,鈥� Reynolds said. 鈥淚 knew him when he was in school, in the Legislature, in business. He鈥檚 probably one of the most energetic, finest entrepreneurs and public servants I鈥檝e known. Just unflappable optimism.

鈥淗e literally is unbelievable. [It鈥檚] terrible for our state to lose a leader like that. They don鈥檛 make people like him."

As news of Skaff鈥檚 death spread late Tuesday, friends and former colleagues from both sides of the aisle reacted. Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and Gov. Patrick Morrisey ordered flags lowered in remembrance of Skaff.

鈥淒oug loved West Virginia. He loved people, and he loved speaking up for what the future could be for us,鈥� House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said. 鈥淒oug was a fantastic ambassador for West Virginia, and it was a privilege to share the stage with him when I had the opportunity.

鈥淒oug was convinced that, if people just spent more time together and understood each other better, all the division among people would eventually disappear into the reality of shared struggles and shared beliefs. I believed聽鈥� and still believe聽鈥� that he was right.鈥�

Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, called Skaff 鈥渁 hard worker, a good friend and an amazing father to his three sons.鈥�

鈥淲hile we may have been on opposite sides of the aisle 鈥� and often on opposite sides of an issue 鈥� he always treated me with kindness and respect and with the spirit of wanting to find the best solution for West Virginia,鈥� Smith said.

Skaff would often stop in Tony Paranzino's clothing shop on Virginia Street, in downtown Charleston, to talk politics聽鈥� among other things. But to Paranzino, better known as Tony the Tailor, Skaff wasn鈥檛 a political figure.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know him as a politician, I knew him as Doug,鈥� Paranzino said, noting a relationship that spanned more than 20 years. 鈥淗e was my friend, my confidante. He鈥檇 stop by and would always have something funny to say. Doug always had a smile, always found humor in things.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss my brother.鈥�

Businessman, restaurant owner, husband, father

In addition to leading HD Media, Skaff served as managing member of Building & Remodeling Warehouse and was the vice president of Skaff Family Limited Commercial Development. In 2024, he assumed the role of interim president of the West Virginia Press Association. And, just last month, he announced his latest business venture聽鈥� the purchase of Fazio鈥檚 Italian Restaurant, in Charleston.

Between his public service and entrepreneurial interests, Skaff rarely stood still. He moved with an infectious energy that was undeniable. Yet he always found time for his family聽鈥� his wife, Marisa, and sons Alexander, Elias and Andrew.

鈥淗e didn't sleep a lot, because he had so many people who wanted a piece of him and he didn鈥檛 want to let anyone down,鈥� Strawn said. 鈥淢arisa loved him so much and would have liked to have more of him, but he wanted to be with all of us and help all of us.鈥�

Strawn recalled spending time at Skaff鈥檚 home and watching him play with his boys.

鈥淲e'd go downstairs and play Pop-a-Shot, air hockey,鈥� Strawn said. 鈥淎nd they鈥檇 just jump up on him and he would just romp and play with them. You could tell it wasn鈥檛 the only time he did that. It seemed to be a nightly ritual.

鈥淗e'd be like, 鈥業t鈥檚 time to go to bed but let鈥檚 get one more in.鈥� They鈥檇 jump on Doug鈥檚 back, just jumping on him like a Dr. Seuss book.鈥�

Skaff was also a member of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Charleston. The church canceled its after-school program Wednesday and instead hosted a candlelight vigil to remember Skaff.

鈥淵ou want to talk about somebody who鈥檚 pro-life, pro-family? That鈥檚 Doug Skaff,鈥� Paranzino said. 鈥淗e understood the importance of family, his religion and his community."

Strawn, struggling to speak through tears shed for a dear friend, described the feelings shared by so many who knew Skaff.

鈥淢y heart hurts,鈥� Strawn said. 鈥淚'm trying to stay strong to honor him.鈥�