Nathan Snyder's Obituary
Snyder, Nathan
98 ½ years old. St, Petersburg, Florida, formerly of Philadelphia, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the early morning hours of Monday, October 21st, 2024.
Nathan, a retired businessman, was a loving and devoted husband and father. His compassion, as well as his spirit and cheerful enthusiasm enamored those passing through his joyful orbit. Nathan was born Natan Schneider on May 21st, 1926 in a small village in the Bukovina region of Romania. His unwavering determination and joy of living were forged in the crucible of the Holocaust. Having survived, Nathan made his way to Israel where he met the love of his life, Julia, at Shar Aliyah, a tent strewn refugee camp on the beach below the Carmel Heights of Haifa. Nathan and Julia married in 1952 and, to their great joy, were blessed with two children and 62 years of passionate and devoted marriage.
Nathan was well known as an avid animal lover, travelling around the Saint Petersburg area, his vehicle trunk laden with food, finding stray dogs, feral cats, raccoons and other animals, which he religiously fed, often recruiting others in his animal welfare missions. Nathan never finished school due to the war, but was multilingual, conversant in varying degrees in over 10 languages, which he loved to employ in friendly banter with people he met from around the world. Nathan loved music, from classical and opera to rock'n'roll and Blues, often surprising his children with Beatles, Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead music blaring from the car speakers. He inherited his parents gentle and determined manner, possessing his own wonderful sense of humor. Nathan is survived by his son Jacob (Janice Jaffee), daughter Lydia Snyder, granddaughters Shelby Lackman and Samantha Jaffee, and grandson, Ronn Jaffee. Nathan is predeceased by his loving wife, Julia.
A small private service will be held for family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nathan's honor to the Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 5th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. (727-820-0100). Tributes & Memorial Gifts - The Florida Holocaust Museum
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