Harvey Snyder, 88

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Harvey M. Snyder, of Providence, passed away on Jan. 24 at the Miriam Hospital with his loving family at his side.

Born on March 13, 1931, in Fall River, Massachusetts, Harvey was an authentic son of New England. He and his wife, Dorothea, raised their two daughters on the east side of Providence and for the past 30 years spent memorable summers in Narragansett.

An avid reader, Harvey had an extraordinary thirst for knowledge and was a perpetual and enthusiastic student. He attended Brown University, graduated in the top 10% of his class from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, and earned an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.

In 1985, he decided to teach himself to become a CPA. Ever the over-achiever, when he received the Nicholas Picchione Silver Medal for attaining the second highest score on the CPA exam in the state of Rhode Island, he joked that if he’d known how close he was to the gold he would’ve pushed himself a bit harder.

Harvey spent much of his professional life as treasurer and vice-president of Uncas Manufacturing Co. until he retired. But retirement did not stop him from working. Harvey remained actively involved in his real estate investment business for the rest of his life.

Harvey was an especially generous man, devoted to his country and his community. He was a Korean War veteran, a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Southeastern MA, and a Hope High School student mentor. But perhaps his greatest act of generosity to his community was leaving his body to Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Spending time with Harvey was a joy. He had a ready smile, a constant twinkle in his eye, was quick with a genuine compliment, possessed a brilliant sense of humor, and absolutely adored his friends and family.

He will be profoundly missed by his wife Dorothea, daughters Ellen and Julie, and sister Audrey Rifkin of Jacksonville, Florida. He was preceded in death by his brother David Snyder of Hollywood, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brown-RISD Hillel Foundation.