Prior to retirement, he was Chairman of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation for 31 years in New York, NY. He was predeceased in 1973 by his first wife, Anne Reynolds Skakel. He is survived by his wife, Anna Mae Skakel of Hobe Sound; his son, Rushton W. Skakel, Jr. and his wife Helen of Bogata, Columbia; daughter, Julie Skakel of Darien, CT; son, Thomas Skakel and his wife Anne of Lennox, MA; son, John Skakel and his wife Eileen of Portland, OR; son, Michael Skakel of CT; son, David Skakel and his wife Kate of Mosier, OR and Stephen Skakel of New Cannan, CT; his stepdaughters, Elizabeth Mallozzi of New Carmen, CT and Jennifer Kennedy of Carbondale, CO; his sisters, Ethel Kennedy of McLean, VA and Ann McCooey of Greenwich, CT; 13 grandchildren; and beloved nieces and nephews.