Remembering Richard Gerald (Jerry) Snyder, PhD

We are sad to report that Anthropology Section Retired Fellow Richard Gerald (Jerry) Snyder, PhD, passed away on September 28, at the age of 89. 

Dr. Snyder joined the Academy in 1973 and went on to serve as Section Secretary in 1974-75. In 1992, he was the recipient of the section's T. Dale Stewart Award, which recognizes outstanding, career-long contributions to the field of forensic anthropology.

Dr. Snyder taught at the University of Michigan's Department of Anthropology for years. He was a forensic anthropologist (second ABFA Diplomate) and he authored approximately 500 publications. Dr Snyder testified in more civil casework cases in forensic anthropology than probably any other individual. He had been a test pilot, and the fifth time he crashed, he was sent to Tucson, AZ, to recuperate. He thought he should do something while in Arizona, so he went to school and received three degrees from the University of Arizona in five years. He worked for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) for many years. He was called in as an expert on the PanAm 103 crash and the Challenger disaster, among others. He had conducted highway accident research with Ford Motor Company as well.

Dr Snyder was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his contributions in World War II. There is an exhibit about him in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.