Billings Gazette
Billings, Montana
The next time you hear the Eagles sing Hotel
California, or One
of These Nights, or listen to Streisands
peerless voice, think of
Bob Snider. Hell be playing his air guitar, neck
veins distended,
trying to hit those notes right along with
them.
Bob was produced in West Virginia, along with Hot
Rod Hundley
and Chuck Yeager. His family joined the western
migration of the
1950s, seeking jobs and opportunities.
He attended college in Arizona and medical school
at UCLA
before heading to Utah for specialty training in
orthopedic surgery.
One week after graduating medical school, he
married his only
wife and life-long love, Linda Steele, of Santa
Barbara, Calif.
The environmental thrust of the early 70s, plus
the open-hearted
people of this region, convinced them that
Billings was the place
to live their adult lives. Bob practiced
orthopedic surgery, bicycle
riding, fatherhood and husbanding here since 1972.
He was still
trying in all these areas at the time of his
death.
He enjoyed the companionship of wonderful partners
in
Orthopedic Surgeons, P.S.C., as well as the
medical community
in general. He never once regretted his decision
to enter
medicine.
He held Board positions at both community
hospitals, the Northern
Rockies Surgicenter, and held several committee
positions in the
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Some
remember
him best as the team physician for the Billings
Bighorns Hockey
Club.
Bobs leaving was natural and inevitable; but
those among you
who knew him should carry high his good traits and
not repeat his
mistakes. And remember hit the high notes when Jim
Croces
singing.
In addition to Linda, hes left you with three
good citizens, Kristin,
Erika and Jon, who are as lucky as he: they are
doing what they
like to do, and have someone to love.
Robert K. Snider, MD (Bob), of Billings, passed
away of natural
causes on Monday, March 12, 2001, while on
vacation with his
family.
Bob was born on Oct. 7, 1940, in Grantsville,
W.Va., son of
William Dale Snider and Edna Richards Snider.
Bob spent his younger years in Grantsville and
then moved to
Coolidge, Ariz., at the age of 14. Upon graduation
from high
school, Bob attended pre-med at the University of
Arizona and
medical school at UCLA in California, graduating
with his Doctor
of Medicine degree. Following their marriage, they
moved to Salt
Lake City, Utah, where Bob did his medical
surgical internship
and began his orthopedic residency, which was
interrupted with
going to Vietnam for a year as a member of MACV
team 22,
stationed in Qui Nhon. He was then stationed at
Fort Lewis,
Wash. He served in the Army Reserve, September
1968 to June
1971.
In 1968, Bob and Linda returned to Salt Lake City
and Bob
re-entered his orthopedic surgery residency. In
1972, the family
moved to Billings and Bob began his orthopedic
practice with
Orthopedic Surgeons, P.S.C., a profession he
always loved.
Bob retired in 1997 and took a sabbatical at
Multipurpose Arthritis
Center at Brigham and Womans Hospital at Harvard
Medical
School. This was an incredible experience for him
and a great
time of freedom and fun with Linda.
Bob was presently enjoying playing the guitar and
singing with his
band, The Mid-Life Chryslers, wood-working,
writing, consulting
and still doing his much-loved research. He always
loved his
computer 227 what a toy it was for him. He loved the
great times he
spent with family and friends. He was most pleased
with the book
he edited, Essentials of Musculoskeletal
Medicine.
Bob was a member of the American Academy of
Orthopedic
Surgery, Orthopedic Research Society, Montana
Medical
Association, Yellowstone Valley Medical Society,
Western
Orthopedic Association, Northern Orthopedic
Society, American
Orthopedic Association, and was on several
committees for the
Academy of Orthopedic Surgery In 1972, he was
given the North
American Traveling Fellowship, American Orthopedic
Association.
Bob was most proud of his children, Kristin, Erika
and Jon and his
grandchildren, Kellen and Makena (Erika). He loved
his nephews,
Andrew and Jeffery Steele, Kimberley Steele Reyes
and his
half-brother Todd Snider of Arizona (wife Sandy
and Natasha and
Jon). Bob is also survived by his cousins, Bill
Richards (Charlene
and son Blake), Dick Richards (Nita and daughter
Diane), Vivian
Richards (Gary, Jennifer and Tamy), Terry Harris
(Larry and
children Alissa and Casey) and Ila Grey Snider.
Bob
will miss his
mother-in-law Jean Steele of California, brothers-
and
sisters-in-law, Dale and Lyn Steele, Dan and
Vivian Steele, his
adopted sons, Gord Kluzak, Gord Stafford and
Brent Gogol and
Jons fiancee, Stephanie Hansen. He also leaves an
extended
family of friends that meant the world to him and
his family.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his
grandparents.
Bob, the void you are leaving is beyond words, you
gave us all so
much and we will remember forever your generosity,
your love,
kindness, intelligence, humble nature, talent and
a sense of humor
like no other. You will be greatly missed,
husband, best friend,
father, grandfather and friend.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March
16, at Mayflower
Congregational Church.
Memorials may be made to the Dr. Robert K. Snider
Memorial for
Medicine and Education, c/o Bill Tierney, 3717
Otis Lane, Billings,
MT 59102.
Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of
arrangements. |
