Norman Wade Snyder, 70, of Ross Township, PA passed away on October 21, 2025.
Norm worked as a professional photographer and ski instructor. He was a music aficionado and enjoyed tennis, ping pong, the Steelers, and the Penguins. When Norm loved something he was all-in. His greatest loves were his family and the ski slopes of the Laurel Highlands.
Norm grew up in Scottdale, PA and was the son of Norman A. (Bud) and Winifred (Jean) Snyder, who have passed. Norm graduated from Southmoreland High School in 1973, where he participated in the ski, tennis, and cross-country teams. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout during this time. On snow days, he and his buddies would head to the slopes to see whose pass would get taken first due to their crazy antics on the snow.
Norm attended Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Medical Photography. He loved his work at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where he was a medical photographer for 15 years. He then transitioned to IT services and retired in 2024 from LaRoche University as a Mac specialist and lab administrator. This brought Norm full circle in his career as he was able to return to his first love as an adjunct professor of photography at LaRoche University.
For 45 years, Norm taught skiing on the weekends at both Hidden Valley and Seven Springs, PA. Norm first joined PSIA in 1978 and was a member for 48 years. He achieved his Alpine Level I Alpine in 1978, and Level II in 1989. Next, in 2008, he earned his Master Teacher Certification. Norm continued to train and advance his certifications as he earned his Telemark Level I in 2014 and his Children’s Specialist 1 in 2022. Norm enjoyed a long and rewarding ski teaching career during which time he passed his love of skiing to new skiers of all ages.
Norm battled Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) for 4 years. He fought the disease with a smile, a joke, and a positive attitude. To his doctors’ amazement, Norm continued to ski and teach with an oxygen tank on his back!
Norm is survived by his wife, Loren Day Snyder; daughter, Christina Miller (Ron); son, Stephen Snyder; granddaughter, Lydia Miller; brother, Neal Snyder (Sandra); and an abundance of friends and family who considered Norm to be a very special man.
A celebration of life was held for Norm in early November. There were many photos reminiscent of the huge role that skiing played throughout his life. In addition to his family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, there were many ski instructors present who added their “Norm stories” to the afternoon. Norm will be long-remembered and missed both off and on the slopes of western PA.