Richard Snyder, 1928-2025

Honorary member Richard F. (Dick) Snyder, 96, died March 20, 2025. Dick loved the outdoors and shared this passion with his family and the Allentown Hiking Club.

Dick was especially fond of the White Mountains and Promised Land State Park. He joined the Allentown Hiking Club in 1967 and led his first club hike in January 1968. Dick’s easy, relaxed hiking style enabled him to effortlessly cover miles of trail. As he hiked, Dick had the uncanny ability to casually flick sticks and branches off the trail with his hiking stick without breaking his stride. One of Dick’s particularly memorable hikes was held five days after September 11, 2001.

Dick also served as AHC president for three years, 1973-1975, and faithfully attended club meetings.

Dick volunteered for the club’s Appalachian Trail work trips. In 1973 he led the work parties that replaced the Allentown Shelter wire bunks with a wood floor. He also volunteered with the crews that refurbished the Outerbridge Shelter in 1978, and helped construct the new Allentown Shelter in 1997. Dick served as a club Appalachian Trail section maintainer for more than 30 years.

Dick was a 1945 graduate of Whitehall High School and served our country in the U.S. Army where he spent time in Germany shortly after WWII. He was married to Gizella for 72 years before her death last year; they have four children, nine grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. Dick was employed at Western Electric in Allentown for 40 years and also worked part-time at Nestor’s Sporting Goods in Whitehall for a number of years.

Dick had a continual smile, was quiet and soft spoken, but his input was always valued. Dick was the “backbone” type of individual who insured that AHC was an effective Appalachian Trail maintaining club. He was a dedicated and willing volunteer. He provided leadership and guidance to other club volunteers, but never sought the limelight.

For his many contributions, Dick was named an AHC honorary member in 1992. In 2000, Dick was selected for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s 75th Anniversary Volunteer Honor Roll and received an engraved watch from ATC. Dick was awarded the National Park Service Golden Service Volunteer Award in 2017, recognizing his 50 years of volunteer work with the Appalachian Trail.

As a valued member for 58 years, Dick leaves a legacy that inspires us to become involved and volunteer as he did.