Bruce “Skip” Snyder ’60

Bruce “Skip” Snyder ’60, a Peoria, Illinois, business and civic leader for more than four decades, died December 6, 2010. He had been executive vice president of First of America National Bank, served as founding executive director of the Riverfront Development Corp., chaired the Heart of Illinois United Way and its fund drives on two occasions and stepped in briefly to head Lakeview Museum when its director left. Skip will be remembered for his dry wit, personal integrity, devotion to his family and many community accomplishments. He once told a reporter he was motivated to community service by the desire to give back to a community that had been a “great place to live” and raise children. He said he just wanted to make Peoria better. Born July 12, 1938, in Peoria to Frank and Grace Snyder, Skip graduated from Peoria High School in 1956, serving as student council vice president before matriculating at Dartmouth, where in the Army ROTC program he was a member of the Army drill team. Skip was a member of Phi Delta Theta, where he served as house manager and was one of the more popular and respected members of the fraternity. After graduating from the College in 1960 Skip continued his studies in Hanover, earning his M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business in 1961. On September 9, 1961, he married Sarah “Sally” Page, who survives, along with daughters Sarah, Susan, Sandy and Debbie and their husbands. His wife and children were with him at the time of passing. Other survivors include his mother-in-law, Sarah, and grandchildren Jenni, Will, Nicholas, Page, Courtney, Kelly and Eric.