Gilbert “Gil” Jacques Snyders, 92, passed away on October 28th, 2024. Gil was born in Brussels, Belgium, to Jacques Snyders and Hilde Barth Snyders. His family was forced to leave during the holocaust but were able to escape and make it to the United States with help from the Norwegian consulate (his mother’s home country.)
Gil grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, where he met his future wife, Nancy Olmstead, in high school.
Gil holds a BSE in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He is a graduate of the Executive Program of the University of Virginia’s Graduate School of Business Administration. Gil and Nancy were married in 1956 and moved from Ann Arbor to Newport News, Virginia, to raise their family.
Gil had a 25-year career with Newport News Shipbuilding. As construction manager, he organized a workforce of more than 1,500 tradesmen for the successful construction of three nuclear-powered cruisers. After retiring from the Shipyard, Gil was hired as a vice president of Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wisconsin. There he led an organization that delivered 14 vessels ahead of schedule and under budget. He then spent a brief stint with Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick, Canada, before returning to Newport News.
Gil was a devoted husband, and a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Aside from his family, his passion in life was sailing. He built his first sailboat and later owned larger boats. He took up racing first and then leisurely cruising down the coast from Virginia to Florida to spend the winter months.
Gil was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents, Hilde & Jacques and his only brother, Jack. He is survived by his children, Dr. Glenn C. Snyders (Cathryn), Jill S. Gimber (Geoffrey) and Jon R. Snyders (Lisa); 7 grandchildren, Whitney Snyders Shifflett (Grant), Dr. Glenn C. Snyders, Jr. (Shay), Alexander Gimber (Lauren), Jon Graham Gimber (Haley), Scott Charles Gimber (Amanda), Taylor Allison Smith, & Emily Madison Snyders and 9 great-grandchildren, Isla Shifflett, Vivi Shifflet, Adam Snyders, Beck Snyders, Emmett Gimber, Reed Gimber, Jay Gimber, Graham Gimber and Nell Gimber.
The family would like to extend thanks to all of the caregivers at The Chesapeake, Bickford, and Arden Courts Memory Center for their loving care over the last 6 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity or practice random acts of kindness.
A private family burial will take place at a later date.
