'Skateboard George' Spinner, local character, dies at 68

Longtime Reno character and pizzeria customer George "Skateboard George" Spinner died Sunday.

A burial service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Our Mother of Sorrows on North Virginia Street.

For years, Spinner was a regular at Nu Yalk Pizza, in its previous location at East Moana Lane and Kietzke Lane, walking there from his South Virginia Street apartment, usually carrying a skateboard.

"He was a fixture here for decades," said Chris McArthur, a restaurant employee.

But Spinner couldn't get to the restaurant when it moved to 9780 S. Virginia St. a couple years ago.

"He had broken his hip and was in a wheelchair," McArthur said. "He was one of our regulars.

"We're all pretty sad," McArthur said. "The guy was around for decades."

Spinner, 68, was from Queens, N.Y., said Jeff Edelnant, Spinner's legal guardian, but he grew up in California's San Fernando Valley. From there, the family moved to Tucson, Ariz.

Spinner had Tourette's Syndrome, a neurological condition that causes involuntary outbursts and muscle tics or spasms, diagnosed when he was about 3 years old, Edelnant said.

"I think he made it to about middle school," Edelnant said. "He was never able to work… He was also legally blind; I'm not sure how that happened, but he had limited vision."

Spinner's sister became "sort of his guardian," Edelnant said.

And when she landed a job in Reno, Spinner moved with her.

Rick Crocitto, owner of Nu Yalk Pizza, said Spinner was "a very intelligent guy. Nobody realized that. It's a sad thing that happened to him."

Spinner would order meatball hero sandwiches, pay for his food and eat in the restaurant.

"We'd explain to customers (about Spinner's Tourette's Syndrome)," Crocitto said. "He got to the point where he carried skateboard as a symbol. Go around on it a few feet, then carry it."

Edelnant, a pharmacist who filled Spinner's prescriptions, also became his friend and his legal guardian after Spinner's sister died.

A few years ago, Spinner's arthritis became bad and he had hip replacement surgery. Other health problems arose. Several months ago, his electric wheelchair broke and Spinner was using a manually operated chair.

"I understand it tipped over and he was hurt," Edelnant said.

Over the next few months, Spinner's health failed further.

"He was famous," Edelnant said. "Everybody knew him at the ballparks. He'd talk to people and that's how he's known… That was his life. He was a good guy."