Former White House Director Passes Away

Father John F. Snyder, S.J. was called to eternal life on September 13, 2014. John died at the Fusz Pavilion infirmary of the St. Louis University Jesuit Community. He was ninety-six years old, a Jesuit for seventy-three years, and a priest for fifty-nine years. John was a member of the Wisconsin Province but did many years of ministry, including his last years, in what is now the USA Central and Southern Province.

Born in Marshall, MN on August 12, 1918, John attended grade school and high school in Marshall and graduated from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in 1940. After a year at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, he entered the Society at St. Stanislaus Seminary, Florissant, Missouri on August 16, 1941. John had the usual Jesuit course of studies at St. Stanislaus, Mt. St. Michaels in Spokane, WA, and St. Mary's College. He was ordained on June 16, 1955, made tertianship in Decatur, IL, and pronounced his final vows on August 15, 1957.

John's years as a Jesuit were full of good ministry in many places. As a young priest he studied sociology at Columbia University and taught sociology at Marquette University from 1961 to 1966. For one year he was Director of Public Relations at Marquette. For two years he served as the Wisconsin Province Director of Formation. He was Rector/President of Creighton Prep from 1970 to 1972. For the next ten years John was on the staff of the White House in St. Louis; he loved this ministry and continued to give retreats for the rest of his life. From 1983 to 1996 John served in various capacities on the Gregorian Foundation, fundraising for the Gregorian University in Rome but based in New York or St. Louis. From 1996 until his death John was a member of the St. Louis University Jesuit Community, engaged in various pastoral ministries as long as his health permitted.

John was preceded in death by his parents John P. Snyder and Mary Callaghan Snyder, his step-mother, Helen Callaghan Snyder, his sister, Helen M. Coryn and brother-in-law Anthony E. Coryn.

Since John donated his body to science, arrangements are as follows:
Memorial Mass: Sunday, October 5, 2014
1:30 PM
St. Francis Xavier College Church
St. Louis, MO

Messages of condolence may be sent to his nieces and nephews:
Mary Coryn Lawson
PO Box 5245
Laguna Beach CA 92652

Edward J. Coryn
14098 Whisperwood Drive
Clearwater FL 33762

John Snyder Coryn
1270 79th Street South
St. Petersburg FL 33707

Thomas A. Coryn
103 Hickory Creek Drive
Brandon FL 33511

Ann Coryn
808 Water Hyacinth Ct. NE
St. Petersburg FL 33703

We remember with gratitude all that God has done through John's life of service to God and God's people. Since John was applied to the USA Central and Southern Province, all members of the province are to offer the usual suffrages. Members of the Jesuit Hall community are to offer an additional Mass as well.
Sincerely in Christ,
John F. Armstrong, S.J.
Socius