Louis Skulnick, Camden jeweler

Louis Skulnick, 96, formerly of Cherry Hill, a jeweler in Camden County for 55 years, died Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Park at Trowbridge, a retirement residence in Southfield, Mich.

Mr. Skulnick dropped out of Camden High School to help support his family. He established a successful newspaper-delivery route. In 1941, he married Rita Polsky, whom he met at a dance in Philadelphia.

During World War II, he served in the Army as a medical technician. He participated in the D-Day invasion. Later, he helped liberate the Leipzig-Thekla concentration camp in Germany.

In recent years, his memories of caring for the wounded on the beaches of Normandy and of the Leipzig camp would bring tears to his eyes, said his daughter, Susan Ruttenberg.

After his discharge, Mr. Skulnick persuaded his brother Al to buy a jewelry store in Camden. Mr. Skulnick took a correspondence course in gemology, became certified in diamond grading, and took over the store's operations. In 1984, Al Skulnick sold the store to Mr. Skulnick, another brother, Bernie, and Mr. Skulnick's son, Marc.

Marc Skulnick moved Skulnick's Jewelers to Pennsauken in the late 1990s. Mr. Skulnick continued to be involved in the business there until retiring in 2000.

Mr. Skulnick was active with the Jewish War Veterans and arranged for religious and social functions for Jewish soldiers stationed at Fort Dix.

He was a member of B'rith Shalom Cherry Hill Lodge and received the lodge's Man of the Year award in 1957.

He was a former board member of the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, and was a former member of Congregation M'kor Shalom in Cherry Hill. He was past president of the Haddontown Civic Association and was an avid golfer.

Mr. Skulnick and his wife moved to Michigan in 2007 to be close to their daughter. His wife died in 2008.

In addition to his daughter and son, he is survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill. Friends may call from 10:30. Burial will be in Crescent Memorial Park, Pennsauken.