Helen Buchanan Snook

Helen Alexandra "Sandy" Buchanan Snook died on May 22, 2018 at her home at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, surrounded by family. She was born on September 12, 1927, the daughter of Franklin Buchanan and Helen Cordelia (“Dolly”) Buchanan. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, John Snook, and her sister, Joyce Buchanan Thomas, of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is survived by three children and their spouses – Lloyd Snook and his wife Sheila Haughey of Charlottesville, Kathy Snook Maxted and her husband John of North Palm Beach, Florida, and Carol Snook Weare and her husband Brett, of Bluemont, Virginia; by six grandchildren – Andrew Maxted and his wife Liz Maxted, Robin Maxted Hughes and her husband Jared Hughes, Brian Maxted, Christopher Snook and his wife Amanda Sage Barnum, Michael Snook, and Elizabeth Snook; and by four great-grandsons – Will Maxted, Dylan Maxted, Richard Snook, and Asher Hughes. Sandy grew up in Metuchen, New Jersey, and went to Antioch College, where she met and married John. After graduation in 1949, they went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, while John completed a law degree at Harvard. They moved to Cranford, New Jersey and then to Charlottesville in 1961 when John joined the faculty of the Graduate Business School at the University of Virginia. Sandy earned an M.Ed. from U.Va., and taught government and psychology at Lane and Charlottesville High Schools from 1972-1980. In 1981, she joined U.Va.’s Institute of Government, developing teaching materials for Virginia government teachers. Sandy embodied the message on one of her refrigerator magnets – “I wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, and then I realized that I am somebody.” She tried to instill that philosophy in her children, in her students, and in just about anyone else she met. She believed, even in the face of contrary evidence, that people of good will can solve any problem if they would just work together. She had a thirst for understanding how government works, for helping other people understand how government works, and for setting the stage for good decision-making. Long active in St. Paul’s Memorial Episcopal Church, she was elected to the Vestry twice, and she chaired the Outreach and Service Commission for many years. Starting in 1964, Sandy helped organize volunteers from St. Paul’s for a summer program for children living around Trinity Episcopal Church. That effort grew into Camp Faith, a day camp in Earlysville that brought together black kids from Charlottesville and white kids from Greene and Albemarle. She was President of the Camp Faith Board from its founding in 1966 until 1972. From 1963 to 1971, she led the first integrated Girl Scout troop in Central Virginia. She was active in the League of Women Voters, serving as President of the League three times. She helped start the Venable Neighborhood Association. In 1985-86, she was Delegate Mitch Van Yahres’ legislative aide, and in 1986 she was a Democratic candidate for City Council. Sandy was involved in many other civic organizations, including serving on the Boards of Directors of the Charlottesville Housing Foundation, the Charlottesville Housing Improvement Program (President, 1981-1984), the Piedmont Housing Alliance, the Monticello Area Community Assistance Agency (MACAA), the Piedmont Council of the Arts (President, 1986-1988), FOCUS, and the Tuesday Evening Concert Series. She served on the Charlottesville Housing Board of Adjustments & Appeals, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transportation Advisory Committee, the Citizens’ Committee for City-County Cooperation, Citizens for Jefferson School, and the Charlottesville Democratic Committee. One of her favorite activities was to read with children in the Charlottesville Schools’ Book Buddies program. She was recognized by the Daily Progress in its annual “Distinguished Dozen” list in 2002-2003. Charlottesville honored her and John as “Bridge Builders” in 2004. In lieu of flowers, Sandy asked for contributions to the Piedmont Housing Alliance or to St. Paul’s Memorial Episcopal Church for its outreach efforts. The family would like to acknowledge the loving care that Sandy received in the Catered Living and Vista units at Westminster-Canterbury. Her funeral will be at St. Paul’s Memorial Episcopal Church, 1700 University Avenue, at 4:00 PM on May 31, 2018, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. The family invites anyone whom Sandy touched to join us as we remember her full life.