Jefferson resident reflects on living with Parkinson’s Disease

BY JOHN R. LUCIANO

Its a progressively debilitating disease that affects 1 million people living in the United States today, according to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation. There is no known cure, and those suffering with it can expect serious changes to their life style, freedom of movement and quality of life. Yet despite the daunting challenges that face him, one Jefferson Township resident who is combating this condition does it with humor and courage, and has formed a team around him to help raise money to find a cure.

PHOTO/JOHN R. LUCIANO

Jefferson resident Skeets Sturtevant, posing with daughter Lauren Geaney and grandson Jack, has been battling Parkinsons Disease for over 10 years. His family formed 'Feets For Skeets,' a team that participates in the Unity Walk.

"I sometimes find myself taking a trip down the stairswithout the stairs," said Skeets Sturtevant, 65, who has dealt with Parkinsons since at least 1998. "Some people with this disease lose their sense of humor. I use mine to fight it."

Admittedly his jokes dont always go over well, but that doesnt stop him. That source of strength has helped garner him support from his family, friends and church in Jefferson. It also sparked the creation of "Feets For Skeets."

"Since 2001, weve been participating in the Parkinsons Unity Walk in Central Park, New York City," explained his daughter, Lauren Geaney. "This is a huge gathering of people with Parkinsons and their family and friends, and many of us have formed teams of walkers to raise money to fight the disease."

"Feets For Skeets" is made up of Sturtevants family members and friends, and it is supported with donations from a wide group of those who know Sturtevant and want to help.

Sturtevant is open about his condition and how it has changed his life. He has been on disability due to the disease for the last decade. He and his wife Cindy have been residents of Jefferson Township since they moved into their "starter house" in White Rock back in 1978. The joke is that they are still in that house after all these years, and after having raised three children. Sturtevant was an engineer and worked for Picatinny Arsenal for many years, finally switching over to teaching in the early 1990s at Chubb Institute. It was there that he started noticing symptoms of the disease.

"My typing started to get harder for one thing, and my teaching abilities began to deteriorate," Sturtevant said. "My doctor, Dr. Gloria here at Skylands, sent me to a neurologist, and soon I was diagnosed with Parkinsons."

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Jefferson resident reflects on living with Parkinson’s Disease