GREENWOOD – Ferd R. “Spike” Sekoll, II, 67, passed away on Friday (November 14, 2025) at home.
Ferd was born on August 16, 1958 in Hornell to Ferd R. and June L. (Petterson) Sekoll. He was a 1976 graduate of Greenwood Central School and later earned a degree in Interior Design at Art Institution of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1978. In August, 1983 in Bolivar, he married Kerry Leonard.
Spike began his career at Argentieri Brothers in Wellsville as a driver/cleaner; being promoted to curtains and other interior installations. He worked as a manager at K-Mart and Pier One, both in Wildwood, NJ and later as a display designer for Hecht’s Department Store in the Washington, DC area. From 1985 through 1988 he worked with his mother in publishing the Ridgerunner, Andover’s final newspaper. He was a finish carpenter for Cardinal Homes in Red Oak, Va. for many years before closing out his career as a sales associate for Lowe’s Home Improvement in Hornell.
Spike is survived by six siblings, Frank “Buck” (Michelle) Sekoll of Greenwood, Sandra (Robert) Arsenault of Vineland, N.J., Sarah “Sally” (Frank) Skorupsky of Millsboro, Del., Anna (Salvatore) Wachter of Hornell, Marietta (Gregory) Goodliff of Port Charlotte, Fla. and Peter (Kimberly) Sekoll of Hornell; his Aunt Ada Cavangna of Shongo; his former wife and good friend, Kerry Croce; 14 nieces and nephews, Kaylene (Kemar) Sekoll, Jessica Arsenault, Rebecca (Troung) Nguyen, Alexandre (Rebecca) Arsenault, Samanatha (Mike) Seltzberg, Joseph Furner-Starrett, John Furner, Justin Wachter, Matthew Wachter, Julie (Caleb) Chin, Lyle Goodliff, Nichole Sekoll, Brenden Bebout and Cameron Bebout; seven grand nieces and nephews, Payton Sekoll, Kianna Sekoll, Helen Edwards, Kaylee Edwards, Ophil’ie Nguyen, Heidi Seltzberg and Norma Jean Wachter; several cousins and his fur baby, Snickers.
He was predeceased by his mother in 1996, his father in 2023 and numerous aunts and uncles.
Spike loved throwing his creative skills and talents into whatever task was at hand, whether his job or a home remodel project. He completely redid an historic 1700’s era servant’s quarters log cabin in Red Oak, Va., turning it into a farmette, complete with garden, goats, chickens and his horse, Watch It. He had a special talent of turning trash into treasure, often refurbishing and reupholstering old antique furniture. He had a passion for Victoria era furniture and design.
Though Spike had no children of his own, as the oldest brother of seven sibling and favorite uncle to 14 nieces and nephews and seven grand nieces and nephews, he was greatly loved and adored by all. He would drop everything to help a family member with a need even when that need was several hours of driving away. He was often the emotional and familial glue that held the family together and was the mastermind behind the Christmas family get togethers. He loved the Christmas spirit along with all its decorations, presents and food and made sure all were gathered around the table to share in the season, together as one family. It was his desire that this Christmas was to be celebrated at his house, a desire that will be carried out in his memory.
Kind hearted, private, hard worker, one of a kind big brother, sentimental, sensitive are all words his siblings used to capture the essence of their brother. He passed quietly at the place he loved and as reflected in the thoughts of his brothers and sisters; “the first child has returned to mom and dad.”
Visitation will be held on Wednesday (November 19) from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. Burial will take place beside his father in the Sekoll Family Cemetery on the property of the Sekoll Dairy Farm. Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.
Memorial contributions in Spike’s name may be made to Philanthropy amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, 120 Wall Street 13th Floor, New York, NY 10005-3908. © 2023 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.
