Virginia Artrip Snyder

1920 - 2017

Virginia Artrip Snyder, a longtime private investigator renowned for her tireless efforts to help the oppressed and improve her community, died on March 20 at her home in Delray Beach following a stroke. She was 96. Virginia was born in Winchester, Va., on Nov. 27, 1920, the oldest of six children. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in government and politics, Virginia worked as an investigative journalist with the Fort Lauderdale News and later, the Boca Raton News, where she won seven national, state and local awards. In 1976, she became the first woman in Florida to own a private investigative agency, which was based in her home in Delray Beach. She gained prominence by investigating difficult and challenging cases, some involving people facing life in prison or the death penalty. As a result of her efforts, six men were freed from death row and others who were sentenced to life in prison for crimes they did not commit were released. Virginia took personal risks on cases, confronting the likes of the Ku Klux Klan, powerful Colombian drug lords, and corrupt police departments. She often worked pro bono for the indigent. Seeking justice was a main motivating factor in her life, and she earned the respect of both friend and foe. In one of her best-known cases, Virginia's work was credited with helping to free Luis Diaz, a Cuban fry cook wrongly imprisoned for the Bird Road rapes in Miami. She never lost faith in Diaz's innocence during the 25 years he was behind bars. Her sleuthing landed her on such television shows as "20/20," "Inside Report," "Late Night with David Letterman," the "Today" show and "Unsolved Mysteries." She was also the inspiration for the TV series "Murder, She Wrote." As a community activist and volunteer, Virginia spearheaded such efforts as the founding of the South County Neighborhood Center at Boca Raton, the non-profit agency that grew into the Florence Fuller Day Care and the Mae Volen Senior centers. She was also instrumental in the reform of the Palm Beach County women's prison system. After befriending George Morikami, a Japanese immigrant and farmer, she played a key role in securing land he owned for the site of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. She ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Delray Beach in 2007. Virginia received many accolades. Florida Gov. Ruben Askew named her one of 14 "Outstanding Women of Florida" in 1975 and Gov. Lawton Chiles included her as one of "Florida's Finest" in 1996. More recently, she received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. Her papers were donated to FAU in 2012. "It serves as a lasting reminder of the tremendous difference one person can make in the lives of others," says Carol Hixson, dean of FAU's University Libraries. Sally Snyder, Virginia's stepdaughter, said she had strong opinions and didn't pull punches. She was also a giving person "who would give you her right hand, if she could," Sally said. "She was there when you needed her." Virginia had many interests. She was a published, award-winning poet and was passionate about history, archeology, and parapsychology. Although she had no children of her own, Virginia and her late husband Ross Snyder had an adopted son, Shoji Oue, who died in 1997. Ross was central to her life. "She was a strong woman and such a force. She'd walk into a room and everyone gravitated toward her," said Nicole Campbell, her grand niece. "But he was her mainstay." Apart from Nicole and Sally, Virginia is survived by two brothers, Floyd "Mickey" Artrip and Cecil Artrip; step-daughter Rheta Bernice Culver; and numerous nieces, nephews and grand and great-grand stepsons and daughters. Virginia also cherished what she called her "soul family," longtime friends who live in the U.S. and abroad. A celebration of Virginia's life will be held on Friday, March 31, at the Old School Square Fieldhouse at 51 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, Fla., 33444. Family and friends will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a brief program scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Virginia's many friends will have the chance to have their stories videotaped at the celebration. The recordings will become a resource for a documentary being made about her and a book about her life's work for justice. Ultimately, they will be added to the Virginia Snyder archives at FAU. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Florida Atlantic University, the Morikami Museum, Florence Fuller Day Care Center or the Mae Volen Senior Center. For more information about the service, please contact Roy Fraker at 954-805-5792 or email him at royf@calvaryftl.org.