Albert H. Snow

WASHINGTON — Albert H. "Bert" Snow, 89, died Thursday, March 27, 2008, at Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Burlington.

He was born August 24, 1918 in Barre, the son of Leon James and Mattie M. (Holt) Snow. He grew up in Barre, attending Matheson School, and graduated from Spaulding High School. As a boy, he became interested in the Boy Scouts organization and throughout his life was a scout leader in several locations.

Following high school, Bert became an assistant chef at the Hotel Barre. At the start of World War II he was drafted and served in the Signal Corps Division. His company was sent to England and the European front. He loved to write and tell stories of his experiences during the war years.

After his discharge he went to Springfield College and became a YMCA director. He worked at the Y in Princeton, N.J.; Naugatuck, Conn.; Keene, N.H.; and Fairbanks, Alaska. While he was in YMCA work he initiated travel camping. Each summer, he would take a group of campers out to the western part of the country or to Alaska. His last YMCA position was in California.

When his father died suddenly, he returned to Barre to live with and care for his mother, and accepted the position of guidance counselor at South Royalton High School. He was there until his retirement at the age of 65. While there, he started the annual deep sea fishing adventure for the students. During summers, he still ran his travel camps out of Camp Billings on Lake Fairlee.

Upon his retirement he joined the Peace Corps and spent his term in the Philippines. There he met and married Gloria Constantino. After returning to Barre, he discovered that South Royalton School needed a driver’s education teacher. He became qualified and served in this capacity until he was 87 years old, becoming the oldest driver’s ed. teacher in the country. The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles also allowed him to issue licenses when he thought his pupils were ready. Serving and helping the younger generation was his life’s work and his greatest accomplishment.

Survivors include his sister, Claradella Betts of Thetford Center; his nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

A calling hour will be held Friday, April 4 from 2-3 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Hersey Road in Berlin, with a funeral service at 3 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bert Snow Deep Sea Fishing Trip, c/o Shaun Pickett, 223 South Windsor Street, South Royalton, Vt. 05068.

The Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home on Main Street in Chelsea is in charge of arrangements.

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