Obituary of Charles Wayne Achuff Jr.

C. Wayne "Skip" Achuff, 77, died peacefully at home in West Chester, PA on August 28, 2022 surrounded by his family, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Celebrations of his life will be held at Thornbury Farm CSA, 1256 Thornbury Road, West Chester, PA, on October 9, 2022 at 4:00 pm; and in Camden, SC, at the National Steeplechase Museum, 200 Knights Hill Rd, on November 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm.

Skip was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughters, Jacquelyn Michelle (Sheila) and Sarah Tantorski (Mark); only grandson, Nicholas Trafficante; sisters Carolyn Duff of Columbia, SC, Nancy Coffman (Ken) of Berwyn, PA, Sherri Quigley of Chadds Ford, PA, and brother, Douglas (Barbara) of Laurel, DE; also 13 nieces and nephews and his Parson terrier, Harry.

Skip was born on August 20,1945, to Wayne and Yvonne Achuff, in Glen Riddle, PA. He graduated from Penncrest High School and attended Philadelphia College of Art. He had many interests, but an abiding passion since adolescence was riding horses. After service to the U.S. Navy (1962-1968), and active duty on Flagship for the Second Fleet, USS Newport News, he made a career of working with horses. Skip rode steeplechase horses as a professional jockey; and trained racehorses for a time and was an owner. Even after retirement from riding, he stayed connected to steeplechase racing, serving as Director of Racing, Radnor Hunt Races, Malvern, PA, for 14 years and Chart Caller for Equibase Company. To support his horse habit, Skip owned, operated, and developed Brass Ladle Products from the restaurant he had shared with his father. Despite his casual demeanor, he was a perfectionist in all his endeavors. Some of Skip’s friends called him “a man’s man,” others, “a ladies’ man.” He had many friends, male and female, who joined him in pursuing his many interests, tennis, golf, sailing, camping, travel, antiques, art, hunting, and of course anything to do with horses and dogs. He was thoughtful about his dress and created his own style, sometimes flamboyant. Skip valued family and friends above all else, always supportive, and non-judgmental. All will miss his open invitation to join him by the fire on the back porch to enjoy a cigar and a bourbon. 

Pagano Funeral Home, Garnet Valley, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Skip’s pet project, Twenty for the Tower, a campaign to restore the Stewards Tower at the Radnor Hunt racecourse.  Contributions can be sent to Brandywine Conservancy, P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 (please indicate Twenty for Tower on the memo line) or made online at www.brandywine.org.