Award-winning chemistry professor, marathoner, biked cross-country
John Snyder. (Courtesy photo)
John K. Snyder, 72, died peacefully at home in Harvard, surrounded by his family and friends on Nov. 13, 2023.
John completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Denison University, his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Chicago, and his postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. John joined Boston University as an assistant professor in 1983 and served on the faculty of the Department of Chemistry for 39 years. His expertise in organic chemistry was complemented by his unparalleled knowledge and enthusiasm for nuclear magnetic resonance determination of molecular structures.
John was immensely dedicated to any student interested in chemistry and established the Chemistry Research Experiences for Undergraduates program to inspire students from underserved populations to pursue the sciences. He was awarded BU’s prestigious Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989 and the Templeton Prize for Excellence in Student Advising in 2009. He once reflected, “In retrospect, I’m far prouder of my teaching than I am my research because I’ve come to realize that that’s where one really makes an impact—getting younger people motivated to pursue careers. Society moves forward as a whole, no single person changes the world. It’s important that we all move forward together and not leave people without resources behind.” He continued supporting students after his retirement in 2022 as professor emeritus.
While academics defined his career, recreational time was spent outdoors gardening or exercising. The house was filled with seedlings by late winter and from spring to fall, John’s vegetable gardens produced bountiful harvests that he loved to share with friends. In addition to working the land, John cultivated a coexistence with predictably mischievous beavers. John also passionately ran throughout his life, completing countless road races and four marathons, including the Boston Marathon twice.
Above all else, John loved his family. He and his wife, Julie, collaborated on farm-to-table production and family road trips, which took them up and down the East Coast, to the Grand Canyon, and through many provinces of Canada. At his suggestion, in the summer of 2012, John and his two daughters biked across the country from Boston to San Francisco, supported by Julie. He would later say that this trip was his proudest accomplishment, above any work from his career.
John is survived by his devoted wife and companion of 36 years, Julie; his loving daughters, Tracy and Nikki; Anacristina Maia; five siblings and their spouses; and many nieces, nephews, and their families.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec.16, at 1:30 p.m. at the Harvard Congregational Church, 5 Still River Road. The dress code honors John’s preferred attire: jeans and a plaid button-down shirt or whatever is comfortable. A celebration of life and work will be held June 15, 2024, 2 p.m., at the Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that contributions be made to the John Snyder and Phyllis Snyder BU IMPACTS Fund, where proceeds will continue his work supporting underserved students in STEM disciplines. Donations can be made at https://tinyurl.com/SnyderFund.
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