Bob Snyder - Delta Pi Alumni of Distinction
In 2015 Bloomsburg University asked greek Alumni to pick a person who best exemplified greeks and greek life for their organization. Delta Pi chose Bob based on his dedications, service, sense of humor, and lust for adventure. Take a minute to get to know brother Bob, and see if you don’t agree that he was the right choice for Delta Pi.
BROTHER PROFILE
50TH Anniversary of Greek Life Celebration Humbly submitted: 11/16/15
The Harley slowly lumbers to a stop, sounding like low rolling thunder. The rider is dust covered and wearing a helmet that looks like one giant eyeball. Under the helmet is revealed a man with short, blonde, helmet-flattened hair, a scruffy face and athletic build wearing black leather. That rider is Bob Snyder, and he is Delta Pi’s candidate for Greek Alumni of Distinction.
Delta Pi selected Bob because he symbolizes dedication to honor, education, family, kindness, rugged individualism, fearlessness, and diversity of interests that are synonymous with a successful Delta Pi man. You might not immediately see all those qualities, when he’s on the bike.
In 1980, Bob was the second, of FOUR Snyder brothers, to graduate from Bloomsburg. All four Snyder brothers were also Delta Pi brothers.
Bob Snyder graduated from Bloomsburg State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and immediately followed his boyhood dreams by joining the Navy. Military service has been a generational tradition in the Snyder family for the past 70 years. Bob says his Delta Pi leadership experience as fraternity Vice President paid off in Officers Candidate School. “I learned the value of teamwork in Delta Pi and how to collaborate with a diverse group of people.” Bob received his commission in 1980 that would be the first steppingstone in a 30-year career.
Bob’s Navy educational experience included: receiving a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Florida, Executive Training at The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania, and attending the United States Army War College. His “hands on” experiences ranged from, traveling the world as a Supply Corps Officer performing duties supporting Navy units; to deploying to Antarctica and having additional duties on a Para-rescue Team requiring training in parachuting, mountain climbing, Emergency Medical Technician, and survival; to being responsible for global logistics support of SEAL operations. Over his tenure, Bob earned the rank of Captain and retired from the Navy in 2010.
Along the way, Bob married his wife Rose, they have daughter Megan and son Paul. They have been happily married for 30 years and both of their children are grown, successful adults in their own right. For many people, that might be enough for a lifetime, but Bob is just getting his second wind.
Since retiring from the Navy, Bob has pursued his love for the open road and motorcycles by enjoying months long motorcycle trips across the US. He started in 1981 with a trip to meet his first ship in San Diego. Later, he rode to celebrate his Navy retirement starting in San Diego, riding through the west, the Sturgis Bike Rally, and 8,500 miles - visiting friends and family and later ending up in Tampa FL. Most recently, he completed a memorial ride for a friend that died while on active duty starting in San Diego going north to Canada, meeting his family along the way, and culminating in a memorial near Detroit.
And as if that’s not enough, Bob has always been interested in the idea of having a farm after the Navy. So, Bob now has a small farm where he is enjoying learning the farming life. Judging from his diverse past and accomplishments, there is no doubt he will be successful at this venture and all future endeavors he sets his sights on achieving.
70 years of the Snyder Family in the Navy. Bob, second from right.
