Obituary of Thomas Walter Snyder

Thomas Walter Snyder died Tuesday, Oct. 7 at his Lake Havasu City home after a short but brave fight with cancer. His wife Margie was at his side. Born January 10, 1945 in Brooklyn, NY, Thom was the 3rd of four boys born to John and Carolyn Snyder. He attended Catholic School and participated in multiple sports throughout his youth. While studying World History, Geography, Driver's Ed and Physical Education at Ball State University he became a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. It was at Ball State where he met Margie. Thom graduated with his Bachelor's of Science degree in 1968. He and Margie were married in Muncie, Indiana on August 22, 1970. They moved to New York where Thom taught school and coached a variety of sports. In 1972 he and Margie took a McCulloch flight to Lake Havasu City. As a result of that trip, they bought property and made Lake Havasu City their home in 1973. They purchased a preschool and rebranded it Bumble Bee School. Thom and Margie were instrumental in the early childhood development of many of Lake Havasu City's children. Thom completed a master's program in Liberal Arts in 1976 from Northern Arizona University. Later that year he became the community's driver's license examiner for the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles. In 1987 he branched out into the business world as an insurance agent for Farmer's. He finally retired in 2007 but continued working as a substitute teacher in the Lake Havasu Unified School District, Havasu Preparatory Academy and Telesis. Thom was an avid sports fan rooting for the New York Mets and New York Jets as well as the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns. His sports enthusiasm was not limited to arm-chair quarterbacking. He was a regular on Lake Havasu City golf courses and tennis courts. He had been a member of the London Bridge Men's Club and the Lake Havasu City Tennis Association. A devout Catholic, Thom was a member of Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church. Surviving Thom are: his wife, Margie; their son, Phillip (Christine) of Broomfield, CO; grandchildren, Grace and Benjamin; his brother, Fred (Connie) of Hampton Bays, N.Y.; sister-in-laws, Sandy Musice from Missouri and Linda from Kansas. He also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding Thom in death were his parents and two brothers. Thom loved Lake Havasu City and all it had to offer. He frequently commented on loving his life here. He is also remembered for his favorite quote, "You Don't bet against Notre Dame and you don't bet against me!" A Mass of the Resurrection will be said on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Thom's memory to Hospice of Havasu or St. Vincent de Paul.