William "Bill" Russell Snider

William "Bill" Russell Snider, an educator and recent staff of New Orleans Public Library, Main Branch, passed away unexpectedly on July 21, 2021 at his home. He was 65 years of age. Survivors include his wife, Mary Holt, son, Jesse Snider of New Orleans, daughter, Sara Howard, her wife, Eleanora Howard and grandchild Max Howard of Bozeman, Montana, sister, Judie Jackson and husband Jay of Austin, Texas, brother, Dyer Snider of Bend, Oregon, nephew, John Jackson and wife Christine of Austin, Texas, uncle, Andy Snider of Delhi, Louisiana, and cousins, Megan Snider of New Orleans, Frank Karcich of Baton Rouge, and Brandy McCachren of Cumming, Georgia. He is also survived by his wife’s cousins and kindred spirits, Carol and Patrick Durusau of Covington, Georgia and Elizabeth Durusau of Athens, Georgia. He was preceded in death by beloved parents, William “Billy Roy” and Martha Ann Snider, grandparents, Jewell “Grams” Russell of Alexandria and Baton Rouge, and Roy and Minnie Snider of Delhi, Louisiana.

Bill attended public school in Baton Rouge and graduated from LSU. He later obtained his teaching certification from the University of New Orleans and a master’s degree in the teaching of history from Tulane University. He worked in social services and, after obtaining his teacher certification, taught at St. Leo the Great and later at Marian Central. He was so happy when he was offered a position to teach eighth grade Louisiana history at Eleanor McMain Secondary School while visiting the Louisiana State Capitol. He taught all gifted social science subjects at McMain until his retirement from teaching. He loved teaching Louisiana history, especially the Huey and Earl Long period, and African American and Native American history of the United States. He often re-read Huey Long by T. Harry Williams and The Earl of Louisiana by A.J. Liebling. He enjoyed that some students called him “Sniderman” as he loved the superhero genre. Following Hurricane Katrina, his mission was to return to New Orleans and continue teaching. He later worked at New Orleans Public Library at the circulation desk and was the voice for many announcements at the Main Branch. He was a devoted parent to his children. He was proud of his son's musical career accomplishments and encouraged all his children's artistic and educational interests. Bill played guitar and loved the Beatles, Stones, CSNY, Dylan, the blues, and all types of jazz. He was a regular at the Spotted Cat, Vaughan's, and other local music venues, and frequented his favorite music shop, Webb's Bywater Music. He supported many local musical artists and progressive causes over the years. Bill was a proud resident of New Orleans and a diehard fan of the Saints and followed Louisiana college teams in all sports, most fervently LSU. He avidly followed the careers of athletes that played in Louisiana. He had religious enthusiasm for baseball and loved both the Yankees and the Giants, and greatly missed the Zephyrs.

Donations in memory of Bill may be made to the Friends of New Orleans Public Library, The Harry Tompson Center (The Rebuild Center at St. Joseph), or a local charity of your choice. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a future date.