Darwin “Tony” Snyder, 1924-2023
We honor Darwin “Tony” Snyder, retired Omaha Westside High School music teacher, founder of Omaha’s community concert band and veteran of World War II’s Battle of the Bulge. Snyder died in Saint Louis on Jan. 2, 2023 at age 98 of complications following a fall.
A native of Marathon, Iowa, Tony served in France and Germany during World War II. In 2020 Guillermo Lacroix, France’s Midwest consul general, presented Snyder with France’s Legion of Honor, the highest award for those who helped save the French republic. Lacroix said the medal recognizes Snyder’s role in liberating France from Nazi Germany as a sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 14th Armored Division. “The French people will never forget,” Lacroix said. As part of the ceremony, Snyder played the French and United States national anthems on the piano.
A native of Marathon, Iowa, Snyder earned music education degrees from Morningside College in Sioux City and the University of Colorado, as well as a specialist degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Snyder was a piano major in college and played cello in the Sioux City Symphony and saxophone in the Monahan Post Concert Band in Sioux City. He taught music in Hawarden and Harley, Iowa, before joining the Westside Community Schools in 1954. He directed Westside High School’s bands for 21 years and was the district’s fine arts coordinator for 12 years.
Snyder founded the Nebraska Wind Symphony in 1977 as a performing group for adults in the Omaha area. He conducted the band for its first 18 years, including annual performances at the Summer Arts Festival. The band is still active, playing a series of concerts that Snyder originated.
He also conducted festival bands in Iowa and Nebraska, the Omaha Ballet pit ensemble, the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, the UNO Concert Band and, for 16 years, the Countryside Community Church Choirs. He also guest-directed the Lincoln Municipal Band and the Sioux City Municipal Band.
Tony and his wife of 74 years, Joan, who died in April 2022, had moved to St. Louis to be close to his son, Mark. At his retirement community, Snyder organized a series of concerts, recruiting performers and often accompanying them on piano. Survivors besides his son and daughter include four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.