Steven Charles Schnibbe

Steven Charles Schnibbe, 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, after several years of declining health. He was born on Sept. 15, 1950 to Robert J. Sr. and Anne Schnibbe of Hastings-on-Hudson. He later made his home with his family in Saranac Lake, a place he chose deliberately and appreciated deeply. 

Those who knew him later in life may remember him fondly as a kind of performance artist, and he was well recognized, driving his infamous van and later his scooter around town with stories to tell and attending music festivals. He was constantly donating money, supporting under served populations, and finding and giving things to others. He was a local oral historian or “gonzo journalist” who told people things they did not know about their own family histories. 

Steve had a big personality and a sharp sense of humor. Intelligent, witty, and famously opinionated, he was a truth teller who frequently clashed with and called out powers that be, and otherwise caused mischief. He subscribed to the Eddie Haskell principle of “no joke is too cruel if funny enough,” teaching his children from a young age to not trust what he says by making up rules in board games, and tricking them into repeating misinformation. 

He had an exceptional sense of comedic timing and a lifelong appreciation for sarcasm, delivered with warmth and confidence. His humor was a defining trait, one that made people laugh, think, and occasionally shake their heads. 

Steve was a wild man who lived well outside the ordinary. He motorcycled all over the country (except Wyoming), shot a glacier in Alaska, visited most continents, was deported from the Bahamas, played pranks on celebrities, and was once the president of a skydiving airport, out of which came the parachuting scandal of the 1986 World Series. 

He worked as a stage manager and in set design for trade shows, calling himself a “glorified stagehand,” where he butted heads with the top executives of Fortune 500 companies. This work took him all over the world, from the Olympics in South Korea, to Australia and Saudi Arabia and the Vatican. 

He was rarely tied to a traditional schedule, making the one time he had a few-day, nine-to-five gig in Lake Placid particularly memorable and confusing to his children, who were not accustomed to seeing him come home from work the same day he left, and were warned of the dangers of full-time employment. They told people he worked in the CIA as it was too hard to explain, but this was wrong, he had turned down their attempt to recruit him.

He was predeceased by his wife, Ginny Schnibbe, whom he loved deeply and missed greatly. He is survived by his son, Bob Schnibbe of Oswego, NY, and his daughter, Juliane Schnibbe of Rochester, NY, who inherited his humor, his intelligence, and at least some of his stubbornness.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake.

Steve did not want a funeral, and in true fashion, he got his way. Instead of flowers, he would much prefer people honor him by donating to a local charity, something that supports the community, helps someone directly, and does some good without seeking recognition. Buy art at the ArtWalk, CDs from musicians, turn down raffle prizes, and support the fire and police departments. He believed strongly in giving back, especially close to home, and practiced that belief throughout his life.

Those who knew Steve will remember his humor, his intelligence, his generosity, and his ability to make even serious moments a little lighter. He will be deeply missed and, no doubt, frequently the stories told about him.