Funeral Details

Don Sneider.

Beloved husband of Marilyn. Loving father of Susan (Michael) Shalem, Laurie Mendelson (Steven Yoder), and Kim (Andrew) Bauman. Cherished grandfather of Elie, Joshua and Rebecca Samet, Allie Mendelson (Franklin Kramer), Lindsey Mendelson Iankova (Hristo Iankov), and Jessica Mendelson, Haley and Jacob Bauman. Cherished brother of the late Charlene (the late Ben) Hertz and the late Velda (the late Norman) Garfinkel. Services Tuesday, 1PM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd. (At Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Westlawn. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601, www.alz.org.

Don Sneider was born on October 9, 1936, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago to Agnes and Sam Sneider. Don loved his family and friends with his whole heart and anyone who knew him loved him. He charmed everyone he met with his huge smile, and thanks to his signature high cheekbones, he always looked like he was smiling. Don grew up in Albany Park with his two sisters Charlene and Velda, who were extremely excited to play with their new baby brother. His sister Charlene took Don to his first Cubs game, which just happened to be the 1945 World Series. He immediately fell in love with the Cubs and spent the next 71 years waiting "until next year" to attend his next World Series!

Don learned to appreciate hard work from his very skilled father Sam, who owned a tailor shop and worked day and night to serve an impressive Chicago clientele. Don inherited his generous spirit from his father and mother Agnes, who always had an open door, and would invite soldiers in for Shabbat dinners. Don was mostly known for his kindness, generosity and ability to get things done for his community. Don had many interests including news, history, politics, movies and especially Chicago sports.

Don graduated from Von Steuben High School in 1954 and earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Illinois in 1958 and a master’s in education from DePaul University in 1963. Don first met the love of his life, Marilyn, at a residence hall dance at the University of Illinois in 1958. They were married in June of 1960 at the Sheraton Towers Chicago where they danced all night at their fairy tale wedding. Don and Marilyn shared a beautiful life together for 64 years and were so compatible they were always by each other’s side. Together, they enjoyed traveling, socializing with their couples’ club, volunteering at the synagogue and were very active in the Morton Grove Action Party.

Don spent 35 years teaching science, math, language arts, drivers’ education and special education at Von Steuben, Stockton, Alcott, Sauganash and Dirksen schools. At Dirksen he also served as Assistant Principal, where he was so beloved, his teachers begged him to come back as principal after he retired. Don believed that difficult situations were best handled "quietly and rationally, while treating the involved individuals with dignity."

Don was a loving father to his three daughters, Susan, Laurie and Kim. He instilled in them the most important values of hard work, kindness, respect, caring and love. His upbeat, fun personality made him a special father and they all enjoyed the time they spent with him. Don and Marilyn moved from Chicago to Morton Grove in 1967 where he became very involved in the community. Don was elected to the Morton Grove Village Board in 1977 and worked tirelessly for 23 years as the longest serving village trustee in Morton Grove. During his term in office, he helped pass countless laws and implement programs that made Morton Grove a great place to live and raise a family. He was instrumental in enabling Morton Grove to become the first village on the north shore to install cable television. He also worked with the board to help Morton Grove become the first village in the nation to ban the private possession of handguns. This legislation was so historic that Don and his fellow board members appeared in an article in Life Magazine.

In his spare time, Don also worked as a counselor at Deborah Boys Club, where he supervised pre-teen physical education programs and game room activities. He was also a member of Congregation Beth Shalom and Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation, where he served as USY youth commission chair and was very active in the men’s club. Don retired early from teaching at the age of 56, where he took up babysitting duties for his 8 grandchildren. He spent much of his time playing gin rummy with his weekly card group, brunching at Kappy's, going to the theater, mall-walking and attending Cubs games. As a grandfather to Elie, Joshua, Becky, Allie, Lindsey, Jessica, Haley and Jake, he was known as Papa Donnie. He was a fixture in their lives as he babysat and took them on outings, always there to watch and cheer them on at all their special events.

Don has touched the lives of so many and leaves behind an enduring legacy of trust, patience, guidance and strength. He will live forever in our hearts.

To view the funeral live stream please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.