Clarence Snyder

"> Clarence Snyder
Clarence Snyder, 85, a lifelong resident of Easton, died Wednesday, July 20, in Easton Hospital. He was a nationally recognized photographer and ham radio operator. For more than 40 years, he was employed as an industrial photographer at Bethlehem Steel Corp. His images were featured in Bethlehem Steel advertisements in TIME, Newsweek and many other general and industry publications, and on the covers of the companys annual reports and other brochures. Those photos featured such memorable events as the completion of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Madison Square Garden, the topping off of many skyscrapers and the launching of dozens of ships and oil platforms built from the companys products. His photo of a silhouetted staircase rising inexplicably into the sky from a construction site was selected by LIFE magazine for its Miscellany page and subsequently by Led Zeppelin for the cover of one issuance of the album Stairway to Heaven. He held the Master of Photography certification from Professional Photographers of America and won numerous awards for his photos, including a citation from the 1939 Worlds Fair, and many awards from the American Iron and Steel Institute. His specialty was photography from helicopters and his signature images were often shot as he hovered rail-high just in front of Bethlehem-built tankers and freighters. He was an active ham radio amateur with call letters W3PYF, past president of the Delaware-Lehigh Amateur Radio Club and life member of the American Radio Relay League (A.A.R.L). He was an active member of the Easton Kiwanis and for 18 years served as the clubs secretary. He was repeatedly cited by the American Red Cross for his contributions during local and national emergencies, most notably during the 1955 Hurricane Diane inundation of Easton. He received numerous Elmer awards from the A.A.R.L. for helping young Eastonians get their ham radio licenses. As Northampton County radio officer, he set up what is now the regional collaboration fire-police network at the heart of local 911 coverage. He graduated from Easton Hugh School in 1937 and attended Churchmans Business College before joining the Morning Free Press as a staff photographer. Upon the demise of that publication in 1943, he joined the advertising department of Bethlehem Steel Corp. After retiring from Bethlehem Steel Corp. in 1985, he worked as a freelance photographer, with notable essays including the renovated interior of Eastons State Theatre. He married Sylvia Thomas of Bethlehem in June of 1941 and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. They lived on Eastons College Hill all of their married life until they relocated to Country Meadows in 2004. He was the oldest child of Rebecca Katz, a native of Lithuania, and Louis Snyder, a native of Poland. His parents met at English classes shortly after they arrived in America before World War I. His younger brother, Herbert, who died in 1984, was a well-known photographer who founded Jackn Jill Studio, Easton. Survivors: Wife; son, Mel Snyder of Lexington, Mass.; daughters, Marjorie Ruder of Lancaster, Susan Stevenson of Sudbury, Mass.; sister, Channa Levi in Israel; six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter. Services: 1 p.m. today, Bnai Abraham Synagogue, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton, where he was a lifelong member. Burial, Bnai Abraham Cemetery, Forks Township. The family will receive condolences at the synagogue following the interment. Arrangements, Ashton Funeral Home, Easton. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, which are not accepted at the synagogue, memorials may be made to the Kiwanis Foundation, c/o 728 Coleman St., Easton 18042.