Robert Thorn Snipes

Robert Thorn Snipes of Stockton Springs, Maine, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Bob was born August 21, 1948 to James Cook Snipes and Elizabeth Thorn Snipes in Hampton, Virginia. Growing up, Bob spent time on U.S. military bases in Germany, and later lived in Arlington, Virginia, where he graduated from Wakefield High School.

Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois in 1970 and received a Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1972. He spent his professional career with the Federal Government, starting at the Federal Aviation Administration and then with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Bob cared deeply about organizational development, helping teams to become more effective and cohesive and to find creative solutions for resolving disputes. By invitation, he traveled to the Philippines and the Soviet Union, where he shared his passion for the values of organizational development — recognizing the strengths and potential of everyone in the room — and offered quiet encouragement to help groups become stronger. After moving with his family to Shepherdstown, West Virginia in 1989, he commuted by train to D.C., leaving home each morning at 5:30 AM in order to be back by 6:30 PM for dinner.

He retired in 1998 and worked as an organizational development consultant before becoming a Christian Science Practitioner. Bob’s faith and church community was a lifelong commitment and focus. He helped to organize a Christian Science Society in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and was an active member of the Shepherdstown Ministerial Association. Most recently, he was a member of Christian Science Society in Ellsworth, Maine, where he served in a variety of roles. 

Because of his interest in genealogy and family history, in 1979 Bob helped found Snipes Family of America (SFA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the coordination of genealogical research on the Snipes and associated families. His dedication and steady leadership of SFA was unwavering and he was serving as co-president at the time of his passing.

A life-long love and appreciation for music meant that music would be playing if Bob was within earshot. His expansive tastes ranged from Bach and Mozart to Yes and the Moody Blues to Eva Cassidy and Morten Lauridsen. In recent years, he enjoyed being surrounded by music while enduring endless rounds of Canasta with wife Susan and daughter Kim.

Bob will be remembered and dearly missed for his gentle and warmhearted nature; for his love of travel, cars, biking and skiing; for his fondness for bargains; and, most of all, for his selflessness and desire to be of service to others.   

Bob is survived by his wife Susan B. Snipes of Stockton Springs, Maine; his daughter Kimberly J. Snipes of Washington, D.C.; his brother James C. Snipes of Tiburon, California; his nephews Parker A. Snipes of Chicago, Illinois, Eric L. Olsen of Keystone, Colorado; Paul W. Olsen of Rockford, Michigan; step-daughters Katie K. Mack of St. Louis, Missouri; Ginger M. Emden of St. Louis, Missouri; Nelleke S. Mack of Portland, Maine; step-grandchildren Lilyan S. and Maggie Emden of St. Louis, Missouri; Collin R. Mack and Noah J. Hartzler of St. Louis, Missouri; and Kit Mack of Portland, Maine. Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Koelle Snipes, daughter Amy Elizabeth Snipes, his parents, and his step-mother Louise Craw Snipes.

There will be no public memorial service. However, we are a prayerful family, and invite others to celebrate Bob’s life in their own way. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts about Bob, by email (SusanSnipescsb@gmail.com; kimsnipes@gmail.com) or by mail (61 Harbor View Dr Stockton Springs ME 04981).

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