Mr. Van E. Snyder

WATERBURY - Van E. Snyder, a longtime educator and principal for Waterbury public schools, died peacefully on Sunday Dec. 7, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 83.

Van was married to Kathleen (Wallace) Snyder for nearly 60 years.

Born on Dec. 17, 1941 in Waterbury, son of the late Van L. and Louise (Finn) Snyder, Van attended Sacred Heart Grammar and High schools and was a Crosby High School Class of 1960 graduate. Van earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UConn, Class of 1964, where he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. He also earned a masters degree from Central Connecticut State University and a sixth-year degree from the University of Bridgeport.

He was a member of the Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools, the Waterbury Retired Teachers Association, the Waterbury Lodge of Elks BPOE 265, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the Western Connecticut Football Officials Association, and was a proud founding member of the Western Connecticut Swim Officials Association.

A lifelong athlete on the football field, tennis court or pool, Van loved his many years as a tennis coach at Crosby, as well as a referee for football games and swim meets. One of his greatest joys was officiating swim meets in the glory days of the NVL, when every team was a powerhouse, every race was won by seconds, and the coaches fought more fiercely on deck than the athletes in the water. Van loved the spiritness and sportsmanship of Greater Waterbury swimming, and spent countless hours either on deck as a referee or in the stands cheering for his children. He also loved spending time, especially on the pool deck as an official, with his cousin Ray Snyder III and brother-in-law Gerry Gingras, both of whom were like brothers to him.

Van had a lifelong love of water, from childhood summers on Hitchcock Lake with his parents, sister Jane and cousins Bette Jayne, Jack, Ray and Elena; to lifeguarding on Hammonasset, followed summers at his home in Dennisport, Cape Cod, and winters at his home in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Van was most content when he was either swimming in the pool or ocean with his children and grandchildren or under an umbrella with a crossword puzzle.

Another source of great joy in Van’s life was dogs. He raised several Labrador retrievers for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Association, and spent the remainder of his days in his chair petting (and sharing too much food with) a lab or two by his side. He admired their devotion, related to their gentleness and greatly appreciated that “a dog is always happy to see you and rarely asks for money.” He always had a special place in his heart for his beloved Snickers, Flanders, Decker, Lily Marie, Allie and Tiggy, sharing long walks on Columbia Boulevard or through Fulton Park. At one time Van owned a black, yellow and chocolate lab, and was known as the legendary “man with all the labs.”

Van was a devout Catholic. He was a parishioner of and served as a Eucharistic Minister at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, attending Mass regularly and also taking countless 2 a.m. shifts at the Immaculate’s adoration chapel, where he’d sit in quiet reflection thinking about family, faith, and dogs.

He spent his retirement years with Kathy, traveling to and exploring the various cities in which his children lived as they started their careers in teaching, finance and journalism. The couple loved discovering new restaurants, churches or dog parks in Boston and New York, and especially visiting wineries around San Francisco. A milestone moment in Van’s life was driving cross country with young Van and Matt, stopping in Yellowstone National Park where he saw many buffalo. Van’s high school football nickname was “The Buffalo,” and he perfectly encapsulated many qualities of those gentle giants.

Van found great joy in his extended family, especially the huge gatherings for Thanksgiving at cousin Bette Jayne’s house on Columbia Boulevard and the annual family football game, a tradition that Van, his cousins, nephews and sons started in the early 1980s. Van was proud that he was one of the last “old timers” to play every year with the younger boys, which eventually included grandsons and great nephews. He was equally proud that after 20 years, he still was able to squeeze into his team sweatshirt when everyone else, young and old, grew out of theirs.

Frugal by nature, Van saw no point in buying a new sweatshirt for the football game when the old one “almost” fit. An insatiable sweet tooth, Van never met a donut or danish he didn’t like. He attended Sunday Mass religiously in Waterbury, Cape Cod or Florida, but church was always sweeter, he’d say, if there was a “coffee and…” session afterwards. He didn’t like spending too much money on cars and clothes and he thought $20 for a pair of sneakers every 10 years was vain and frivolous. But Van did believe in spending wisely, on investments that paid off, and he liked things with value, such as real estate and education. Van enjoyed the fruits of his hard work and thriftiness by seeing his children earn several advanced degrees, build successful careers, and buy homes in which to start families of their own. He had the privilege of enjoying fun days in Florida, quiet nights on the Cape, or being close to family in his beloved Waterbury.

But mostly Van cherished his seven grandchildren who affectionately called him “Boompa.”

In addition to his wife Kathleen, he is survived by his children; Kristen J. Snyder of Boston; Van M. Snyder and his wife, Suzanne McNamee Snyder of Pelham, N.Y.; Matthew W. Snyder and his wife, Jessica Lee Snyder of Easton; Hanna Snyder Gambini and her husband, Steve of Waterbury; and seven grandchildren; Jonah V. Snyder, Elizabeth Gambini, Ryan Snyder, Nathaniel Snyder, Lucien V. Gambini, William Snyder and John Snyder. He also leaves many nieces and nephews with whom he was very close, including Suzanne, Geff, Maggie, Matt, Patrick, Katie, Mary Sarah, Chris, John, Brendan, Emmett, and Cheryl; as well as several great nieces, great nephews and a great-grand nephew. Van was predeceased by his sister, Jane S. Gingras, numerous cousins, and cherished nephews Gerry Van Gingras and Timmy Finn O’Connor.

Funeral services for Mr. Snyder will be Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 74 West Main St., Waterbury at 1:30 p.m. Those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will be held at the convenience of his family. Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1987 East Main St., Waterbury, CT.

To honor Van’s memory, donations to Guiding Eyes for the Blind at www.guidingeyes.org, would be greatly appreciated. The family also asks that friends and loved ones please share a funny story or memory about Van on the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com.