For nearly 20 years, Dick Skrinjar served as the high-profile, sometimes flip community relations coordinator for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 11.

Last Friday, he was called into the Collier office of District 11 Executive Karl Ishman, where Ishman and PennDOT's public information chief Rich Kirkpatrick were waiting.

"They told me the department was going a different direction and the plans don't include me," Skrinjar said yesterday. "They told me I was an at-will employee and, as of [Friday], my services were no longer needed."

Skrinjar, 53, was officially fired from his $64,700-a-year job that he held longer than anyone else in District 11, serving under five governors and four state transportation secretaries.

Skrinjar said he was "shocked" and had received no prior indication that Ishman, Kirkpatrick or PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler were dissatisifed with his job performance.

Others expressed shock, too, from a Highland Park neighbor, Terri L. Chapman, to political consultant Bill Green, with whom Skrinjar attended classes while both were students at Point Park College.

"He has been our favorite PennDOT spokesman for 19 years," Chapman said. "What gives? Did someone need to make room for a job for a political crony?"

"I'm stunned," said Green, whose agency worked with Skrinjar to coordinate public information on behalf of PennDOT for the $10-year, $250 million reconstruction of the Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel. "Even the toughest critics would say he handled that project brilliantly. He has done an outstanding job for this area."

PennDOT District 11 embraces Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties and, with Pittsburgh as the geopolitical center and a crossroads of interstates (376, 279, 79), is almost constantly in the news.

Kirkpatrick and Biehler wished him luck but were mum about reasons for Skrinjar's dismissal.

"Dick has left the department to pursue other opportunities," Kirkpatrick said. "He accomplished many missions in his time here and we wish him well in the future."

Asked why Skrinjar was fired, Biehler said, "We appreciate his long service to the department." He said PennDOT would "go through the normal process" to find his successor.

When he was hired under the administration of former Gov. Dick Thornburgh, Skrinjar won out over scores of other applicants. In addition to being a journalism graduate, he had been with WIIC-TV, KDKA-TV, KDKA-Radio and private marketing, advertising and communications firms.

"At the time, I was told PennDOT needs somebody like me, to provide the public with correct, clear, concise and timely information," Skrinjar said. "Then on Friday, they tell me they're going in a different direction."

Skrinjar and his wife Barbara, a teacher at St. John of God School, McKees Rocks, have three sons: Zach, a teacher in North Hills School District; Gabe, an Allegheny College graduate working in private industry; and Elliott, a senior at Penn State University's main campus.

PennDOT has named District 11 Safety Officer Cathy Tress as acting community relations coordinator.