Hyman Skulsky, 92

Lighting Store Owner In Pacific Palisades

Hyman Skulsky, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on Thursday, December 6 at his home in the Alphabet streets. He was 92. His family lived in Belgium, but during World War I escaped to England ahead of the advancing German Army. Hyman was born in England. When he was 4 years old, he contracted polio, and after a year of hospitalization, his family returned to Belgium. After his studies in Antwerp, Hyman went into the electrical lighting business in partnership with his brother Sam. During World War II, his parents and sister were deported to Auschwitz, where they all perished. Having been born in England, Hyman was a British citizen, thus escaping the fate of his family; instead he was taken to a detention camp where other British subjects were held. He was liberated in 1945 after three- and-a-half years. Then he immigrated to Israel, where he worked for the British Embassy for five years. In 1954, Hyman came to the United States to join his brothers. While in New York, he met his future wife, Meta, also from England. The couple married in 1959 and moved to Los Angeles in 1961 to open a lighting business together with his brother Sam. In 1968, they opened Selectra Creations, a specialty lighting store on Swarthmore. Hyman, Meta and Sam operated the store until their retirement in 1985. Hyman and Meta lived in Pacific Palisades for 36 years, and many of their customers became lifelong friends. In his retirement, Hyman continued to be active and enjoyed repairing things for many of their friends as a hobby. He took great pleasure working in his garden and insisted on fixing things in his home by himself. Hyman and his wife volunteered for 15 years at the Center of the Partially Blind, and he was enrolled in Spanish classes for many years. In October, he suffered a severe heart attack; in spite of his declining strength, he continued to be optimistic and gracious until the end. He is survived by his wife Meta; nephews and nieces; and a large number of friends. Hyman left behind a legacy of caring, humor, wisdom and devotion to Judaism and Israel. He was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him. Services were held at Chabad, the Palisades Shul.