Fallen Eagles

Gloria Hoffman (Snyder)

The obituary below, published in Dallas Morning News on January 6, 2019, was written by Sarah Scott, former journalism teacher at RHS. (Please excuse my inclusion in the photo. Gloria was a close friend, and I guess I wanted to memorialize that somehow. DMC).

SNYDER, Gloria Ann Hoffman

     If you saw the "Gorgeous" full moon lighting up the dark night sky, Dec. 21, 2018, you know that Gloria Hoffman Snyder met Ed, who was waiting with open arms that night. Gloria died peacefully at home from complications related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

     Perhaps best known as the Head of Parish Episcopal School for over 29 years, Gloria became the second "Headmistress" of Parish Day School in 1980. As Head of School, Gloria guided PDS, that "little church school on the corner of Spring Valley and Hillcrest" on the campus of the Episcopal Church of Transfiguration to Parish Episcopal School grades Pre-K to 12 with almost 1,200 students on campuses at Hillcrest and Midway.  

     Using her persuasive smile, a researched plan and determination, Gloria inspired prominent business leaders along with faculty and volunteers from the school and Church communities to join her in achieving her vision for PDS. While keeping Parish true to its core of nurturing and teaching kids under the banner of Wisdom, Honor and Service, Parish Episcopal School has grown into an innovative college prep school.

     Perhaps Gloria's greatest role was that of a mentor. She inspired students, faculty, parents and associates to be the best that they could be and to think "out of the box." Everyone who knew Gloria, in any role, felt loved, encouraged and challenged. Many posts on the School's website attest to the vast impact she had on peoples' lives.

     Gloria's influence on the world of education was felt throughout the nation by serving in a number of organizations. She served with distinction as a member of the Executive Board of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (1982-2001); secretary (1989-91) and president (1991-96) and on the SAES Standards Committee (1985-99). A member of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, she was a chair and secretary of the Diocesan Commission on Episcopal Schools in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.

     Nationally, she was a member of the 1997-98 NAES Executive Director Search Committee. In addition to her Episcopal school work, Gloria has been a member of the Standards Committee and chair of the Diversity Committee of the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest. She was also a member and former president of the Board of Trustees of the Youth Services Council of the Richardson ISD.

      After her retirement from Parish, Gloria was a senior search consultant of The Education Group, (2009-18) and served as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Philips School, Ursuline Academy and Alcuin School. In addition, she became even more involved with the Church and served on the Altar Guild, as a lector, and an usher at services.

     Before Parish, Richardson High School was home for 18 years (1962-1980) where she taught American history and government, headed the 18-member social studies department and headed the finance staff of the Yearbook for several years. While at RHS, Gloria got her Masters of Liberal Arts at SMU. She also became a national officer of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She balanced her teaching duties and graduate studies while serving as National Tri Delta Membership Director where she mentored young women around the country. She remained close to many of her Tri Delta relationships throughout her life.

     Gloria was a Tri-Delta every day of her life after pledging at The University of Texas in Austin, where she got a BS in education and history in 1958, but even more important, where she met Edward Monroe Snyder, Jr. On Aug. 15, 1959, they were married. Since Ed was in law school, they stayed in Austin until he passed the State Bar Exam and went on to practice law in Dallas (1962-2012).

     Gloria and Ed were both avid sports enthusiasts. During their undergrad days, the Snyders followed the Longhorns and even knew Coach Darrell Royal. As avid RHS Eagle fans, the Snyders attended football, basketball and baseball games in addition to Cowboy games and their beloved Texas Rangers. As Parish grew they added the Parish Panthers to their list. The building housing the gym on the Hillcrest campus was named for Gloria and when the Midway campus added a stadium, it was also named in her honor.

     Ed was an only child; and while Gloria grew up as an only child in Corpus Christi and Houston, her sister, Frances Hoffman McDougall, grew up in San Antonio and was raised by their father's parents. "Dad married Ann (Gloria's mother) when I was 5," said Frances, explaining that their father, Edward Hoffman, wanted his daughters to know each other, so summers were spent in Manitou Springs, CO, where the girls would ice skate almost daily at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

     Both Ed and Gloria remained close to their mothers and moved them both to a house next door to them in their later years. Gloria is survived by her sister Frances McDougall, her niece Debra Turner and nephew George Marshall McDougall, Jr., along with 5 great nieces and nephews who live in San Antonio and Austin; her cousins Paul Wear and Beverly Butt of Houston, and Tommy Boroughs, Auburn, AL; her neighbor J. B. Forrest, who has become family over the 50+ years next door, and thousands of "adopted" children and grandchildren from Parish, RHS and Delta Delta Delta.

     She was pre-deceased by her husband, Edward Monroe Snyder, Jr.; her "Mama" Ann Catherine Hoffman McCubbin; her mother-in-law,"Mom Snyder," Reba Lee Estes Snyder; and her father Edward Hoffman & step-father Roy McCubbin. Gloria, while you did, indeed, soar like an Eagle, when Ed left, you lost the wind beneath your wings. You are home now.

SERVICES

     A requiem Eucharist with Committal of Ashes will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 14115 Hillcrest Road, Dallas 75254 on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. Committal of Ashes will take place at the Transfiguration Columbarium immediately following the service. Together the School and Church will host a reception in Roper Hall.

     Parish Episcopal School will host A Celebration of Gloria's Life Service, Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. in the Gene E. Phillips Activity Center on the Midway Campus, 4101 Sigma Rd, Dallas 75244, for those who knew Gloria via her school and professional relationships. Former students and colleagues of Gloria's will speak about her life while current students will lead the singing of music Gloria cherished.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Endowment Fund of Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration; St. Philip's School and Community Center, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Dallas 75215; the Gloria Snyder Scholarship Fund at Parish Episcopal School or to a charity of your choice.