Eugene 'Gene' Snyder

He is survived by his wife, Mary A. Snyder; children Gwen (Dean) Campbell, Jordan (Theresa) Snyder, Lynne (Aaron Zaber) Snyder, Nikki (Bill) Metakes; grandchildren Justin, Alison, Eileen; and loving uncle to many.

He was preceded in death by parents Bessie and William Snyder; sister Phyllis B. Wolov; brother-in-law Harold Wolov; sister-in-law Elizabeth W. Smith.

Growing up in Philadelphia, he was a first generation American Jew whose first language was Yiddish. He earned a pharmacy degree because that was a profession open to Jews at that time. He continued his education and earned a Doctor of Pharmacy at Temple University and a PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Chicago. He taught chemistry at the University of Connecticut and East Tennessee State University. He was also employed as a chemist at Kraft Corporation in Illinois. 

When he was 41, he returned to school to study law at night with three children, a full-time job and a manual typewriter. In 1975, he graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago-School of Law. He enjoyed a successful career as a patent attorney at UOP in Illinois.

Gene was a man of many hobbies and interests: He was an intellectual who enjoyed civil discourse and spirited conversation about many topics with family and friends. He was also a life-long photographer, an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed tennis, hiking, biking and camping, a world traveler, wine enthusiast, self-taught woodworker and an AARP volunteer who assisted local senior citizens with their income taxes. And he always looked forward to regular bridge games with friends.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, yet to be scheduled.

Donations can be made to the University of Chicago-Physical Sciences, 5235 South Harper Ct., Suite 450, Chicago, IL, 60615; or Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Rd., Sedona, AZ, 86336.