Stanley W. Snider

Stanley Snider, 94, Chairman Emeritus of Stanmar Inc. based in Wayland, MA died at his home in Needham, MA on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Stanley was the second of four generations to lead the company. From the original family business, started by his father, Harry, Stanley created Stanmar, a company he was fiercely proud of, and in later years, pleased that the next two generations of his family had continued to lead and evolve the business.

His hero was Henry David Thoreau, whose writings inspired him during his youth to pursue his quest for individuality – his willingness to swim against the tide, an attribute of Stanley’s entire life.

Stanmar was a leader in the first generation of pre-fabricated vacation homes after WWII. Always innovative and a problem solver, Stanley anticipated the future, hence the title of his memoir “Mr. What If”.

Stanley evolved his company into building suburban churches, YMCA’s and then vacation and residential communities (Including the Mattakesett Community in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard and The Farm at Chestnut Hill) and Smuggler’s Notch Ski Resort in Jeffersonvile, VT. He and his wife, Mary Ann, worked together to create these residential communities, delighting in providing meaningful multigenerational experiences and lifestyles for others to enjoy that continue to this day. As Stanley liked to say, “Community building was our business.” Today, Stanmar is a leading designer and builder of facilities for private schools, universities, Boys and Girls Clubs and country clubs and a developer and operator of unique island resorts.

Stanley and Mary Ann loved to travel, especially to Japan where they shared a passion for Japanese landscaping, culture and pottery; they loved to ski and bike ride, always meeting new friends along the way and creating meaning in the lives of others. They were avid art collectors and lifetime supporters of the MFA.

Stanley conceived of and created the Summer Institute on Martha’s Vineyard at the Hebrew Center in the 1990’s- a think tank of speakers and topics that were meant to provoke discussion and togetherness at his favorite home- Martha’s Vineyard. Today the Summer Institute is a robust organization with broad appeal and interest throughout the island.

A graduate of Phillips Academy, Harvard University and Harvard Business School, Stanley continued to learn all the time- throughout his life. To keep his mind active year-round and to stimulate others, after retirement from Stanmar, Stanley started many men’s discussion groups in Boston, Martha’s Vineyard and in Jupiter, FL making new and close friends along the way at every turn.

Stanley loved his family and is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Ann (Kane) of 68 years, his two sons, Mark and Jim, and their spouses, Gwenn and Terra and 6 grandchildren Oliver (Yaoyao Kelly), Annie, Matt, Pallas (Chris Ziporyn), Sage (Kevin Pereira) and Solon and 3 great-grandchildren, and his sister Ruth Bernstein . His brother, Eliot Snider predeceased him.

Funeral services will be at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley on Thursday, April 7 at 10:30am. Attendees are required to be vaccinated and boosted. Masks are optional.

Services can be watched via Zoom by clicking the following link: https://tbewellesley.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtfu2gqD0rG9NZu0kSv-VhjbW8Xw0RgIhX

Private interment to follow service at Crawford Street Memorial Park, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury for the family only.

Shiva at The Farm at Chestnut Hill, 99 Florence Street, Building 60, Apartment 2-B, Chestnut Hill, on Thursday from 2-5pm and 6-8pm and Friday from 2-6pm.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to: Martha's Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, www.mvcommunityservices.org or the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center, PO Box 692, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, www.mvhc.us