In Memory

Steve Snyder VIEW PROFILE

Tribute from John Adamson

Steve was a close friend at East and many years beyond. He asked me to join a band he and Joe Saitta were putting together first week of Sophomore year. I told them that I wasn’t really very good on the guitar and hadn’t played for a long while. They said they knew that and that’s why I’d be playing bass.

We called ourselves the Pawns and played maybe 3 gigs, including a stomp in the front hall of East. Band didn’t last but the friendships did. Steve stuck with his music, became a real aficionado (had 1000 albums) and a great rock and roll guitarist.

He made his living as a musician until he went nerve deaf and had to hang the guitars up. Literally. But Steve (who also went by Blondie and Jim Dandy) had many talents that few knew.

He was a formidable outdoorsman and became a river guide in Oregon when he married a woman with 4 kids who all packed up and moved to Bend. He also there became step dad of the century, I do believe.

He had a high IQ and he channeled his smarts into an accounting practice that he worked on a spot basis all his adult life.

Main thing about Steve though, was his kind heart and great sense of humor. He made his bad times fodder for his brilliant wit and in so doing made it impossible for anyone around him to get too blue. He’d just help you see the humor in whatever your ordeal and help you move on.

He took in many strays, I among them at one point, and once he called you friend, you always knew that he always had your back.

He lived happily ever after, finally, with his new family up in the woods and that couldn’t have happened to a more deserving or nicer guy.

My farewell toast to him would be: “805, I guess you’re leaving goodbye.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioKodbNTljg 

OBITUARY

Steven Wayne Snyder

1951 - 2023

Redmond, OR- Steven Wayne Snyder (Steve) passed away at home in Redmond, Oregon on November 14, 2023. Steve was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 3, 1951, to Hugh A. and Gladys Reid Snyder.

Steve attended the University of Utah but left to pursue a music career. He was also a professional musician (guitar and vocals) and played in bands for several years. Two of his bands were Louie Drambuie and 911 Emergency in Salt Lake City.

He relocated to Portland, Oregon, and performed with a country/western band, playing rhythm guitar, until he got "tired of the same 4 chords". He discontinued his music career after suffering significant hearing loss. Later Steve pursued a career as a retirement plan administrator, working for various firms right up until his death.

Steve married Patricia Mavor on 31 August 1986, in Salt Lake City, and later divorced. He married Elizabeth St. John on 31 July 1993, and later divorced.

An optimist by nature, Steve married Denese Lovaas on 20 June 1999. Steve became a husband, stepfather and step-grandfather all on that same day. Steve and Denese made their home in Bend and then Redmond, Oregon.

Steve had four stepsons, Denese's sons by a previous marriage: Tony (Thomas Anthony) Starr, Tim (Timothy Adam) Starr, Nick (Nicholas Arnold) Starr and Rick (Ricky Dean) Starr. As the saying goes, "the third time's the charm", as Steve and Denese had 25 years together loving life and each other.

Steve had the ability to make lifelong friends from grade school on and maintained those friendships throughout his life. After relocating to Oregon, Steve became an expert at white-water rafting, and ran the Deschutes River every summer.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sharon Snyder Kamerath, a brother, Clyde Reid Snyder, and stepson, Tony.

Steve is survived by his widow, Denese Lovass Snyder and stepsons, Tim, Nick and Ricky Starr, a sister, Bobby (Barbara) Snyder Colton, and brothers Ron (Ronald) and Ken (Kenneth) Snyder. He is also survived by several grandchildren: Savannah Starr Sutfin, Jonah Starr, Micah Starr, Jonathen Starr, Emily Starr, Brenden Starr, Jaxon Starr, and Mandy Starr. He is also survived by one great-grandchild, Malaki Joseph Sutfin.

A memorial service with friends and family will be held at the family home on November 29th at 1 pm. Steve has chosen cremation, so there will be no graveside service.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/saltlaketribune/name/steven-snyder-obituary?id=53695528



 
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12/04/23 12:54 PM #1    

Robert Cannon

Niely done John.


12/05/23 08:28 AM #2    

Dave Seiler

I certainly appreciate you being the commentator for the class of "69!  Your posts are always thought provoking as well as entertaining.  Thanks for continuing to touch lives in a way only you can.


12/05/23 09:23 PM #3    

Sydney Richards (Tanner)

I'm so sorry to hear about Steve's passing. He was a wonderful friend and brightened up my year I shared with you all at East High School. We were friends for years after that too. I talked to him on the phone just a couple of years ago. So sorry he's gone. 😟❤️


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