Craig Alan Snedeker
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Craig's obituary
CRAIG SNEDEKER
“Sned”
Craig Snedeker, born April 25, 1957, a long-time resident of Bethesda, Maryland, entered fully into the presence of the Lord on March 12, 2023, after a 22-month battle with glioblastoma multiforme. Craig fought his battle with dignity and grace and made every effort to live life to the fullest with those he loved and cherished. For the past six months, family and friends were continuously by his side. Craig passed away peacefully in his home on the Wye River in Easton, Maryland. He is now in Heaven with his mother, Catherine (Lockard) Snedeker (2011), and father, Wallace Snedeker (2022).
Craig is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Amy Finan, who never left his side throughout his courageous fight, and his cherished daughters, Katherine “Kate” & Caroline Snedeker, who are his pride and joy. He is also survived by his loving stepmother, Wanda Snedeker; his beloved siblings: Robert “Bob” (Brenda), Lisa Tewell (Thomas “Rick”) & David Snedeker (Amy Wieczorek); step-siblings: Matt Smith (Lynne) & Sarah Smith; nine nieces and nephews: Jessica Bailey (Mike), Michael Snedeker (Hannah), Mary Davis (James), John Snedeker (Amber), Christian Tewell, Valerie Desrosier (Peter), Annie Snedeker, Brennan Smith & Brady Smith; and a growing family of 18 grandnieces & nephews.
Born in Cambridge, Ohio, Craig spent his formative years in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he learned well the value of hard work and strong business ethics. At the young age of 12, he worked to expand his paper route by genuinely connecting with his customers. In so doing, Craig built a lucrative business within one year, which he proudly sold when his family moved to his parent’s hometown of Coshocton, Ohio. Craig’s instinctive priority of putting people first at a young age became central to his character throughout his life.
At Coshocton High School, Craig was active in student government and served as student council vice president & president. His graduating Class of 1975 voted him “Hardest Worker” and “Most in Need of an Alarm Clock” (It’s a Snedeker thing;). Craig continued his education at Miami University, graduating in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. While at Miami, Craig further developed his leadership skills by participating in student government and as an officer in Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Craig’s successful career was based on determination, hard work, and putting people first to bring out their best. Following his passion for government, politics, and leadership, Craig moved to Washington, DC, immediately following graduation and worked as a legislative aid for various members of Congress. At age 25, Craig returned to Coshocton to run for County Commissioner, winning his party’s nomination but ultimately losing the general election by less than 1% of the vote.
Craig then set his sights on business and followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue a career in the then-emerging cable television industry. His first cable position was with Media General Cable (now Cox Communications), which brought him happily back to the Washington metro area. Craig excelled at Media General (13 years) and was promoted to higher levels within the company over the course of his tenure. Craig then moved to Comcast (11 years) and once again rose quickly through the ranks to the executive level. He established himself as a “fixer” of troubled local cable systems, requiring six corporate moves in seven years until he became Comcast Montgomery County Vice President & General Manager. Craig was again delighted to return to the Washington metro area, settling in Bethesda.
As a new father, Craig desired to be more present with his young daughters, Kate & Caroline. He also realized his continued success with Comcast would require frequent moves. Therefore, he left the company and reignited his entrepreneurial spirit by establishing his own business, All-Pro Marketing (4 years). This allowed him to maintain a permanent home in Bethesda, establish community roots for his girls, and have the freedom and flexibility he sought as a parent. Craig kept his home office when he pivoted to the energy field, joining Atlanta-based Comverge. With his impressive leadership and operational expertise, Craig quickly accelerated to executive positions at Comverge, subsequently acquired by Itron (13 years), bringing to a close his inspiring and illustrious 45-year career.
The same attributes that held Craig in high esteem in the workplace also enriched every community of which he was a part. A lover of the arts, especially music, Craig served as a Board Member of the Strathmore Hall Foundation and the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. He was also on the Board of the Montgomery College Foundation. He was invited to Leadership Montgomery in 2006 and was honored to bring his leadership skills for the benefit of the County.
As a devoted single dad for over ten years, Craig made it his mission to be ever present in his daughters’ lives. Kate & Caroline’s happiness and well-being were his top priority. He was never too busy to join his girls at their school for recess or coach their basketball and softball teams. Creating and upholding traditions were of the utmost importance to Craig – everything from Wednesday spaghetti dinner and Friday family movie night with candy in popcorn to giving annual snow globes to each daughter and cutting down their Christmas tree every year. He filled their summers with meaningful adventures – horse camp & blizzards from Dairy Queen and road trips to Ohio, Tennessee & Florida to spend time with family and friends. In particular, they made yearly jaunts to visit Grandpa Wally & Grandma Wanda, where they enjoyed boating, water skiing, and braving the Wild Eagle at Dollywood!
In 2013, Craig met and fell in love with his beloved wife, Amy Finan. In early 2015, together with Kate & Caroline, they established a new family home in Bethesda. Craig & Amy wed in June of 2018. The four enjoyed life’s sweetest blessings and shared many new adventures and travels. In May of 2022, the family ventured together to the South of France and Paris for their final vacation.
Craig spent 40 years in the DC metro area, and during that time, he discovered the beauty of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and the family often spent weekends and summers there. In May 2022, the family made their permanent home in Easton, where Craig & Amy intended to spend their retirement years. Craig was passionate about boating, jet skiing, and catching crabs off their dock for dinner. He felt at peace on the water and delighted in sharing this idyllic world with their steady stream of loved ones.
No son could love their parents more than Craig and he prioritized quality time with them throughout his life. At Craig’s request, his mom Cathy moved to the DC area to be close to him as she launched her new life as a single woman. During those ten years, they would pal around nearly every week and always had a Christmas shopping date followed by a cold beer at a bar. When his Comcast career took him to Florida, where his dad Wally lived, Craig spent fun-filled hours on golf courses, baseball parks, and football stadiums with his “Daddio.” In Craig’s words, “My dad was my rock and role model, especially as a father.”
Craig had a zest for life. He made the most mundane tasks FUN - from folding laundry to washing dishes to shopping for groceries. He loved to put on music and dance, especially in the kitchen. With Craig, the glass was always overflowing. Craig’s joyful Soul was infectious.
Craig cherished each and every member of his large family, as well as his many lifelong friends and co-workers. And with his warm personality and generous heart, he had a natural connection with all those he encountered, making new friends quickly and easily. As a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Craig savored quality time with those dearest to him. He was a man of strong faith and strong character. He was kind and considerate. He lived to serve up exciting adventures and simple delights. A tender-hearted, nostalgic man, he was a creator and keeper of traditions and a maker of memories to last a lifetime. Craig is truly beloved and is dearly missed. The imprint of Craig’s radiant Spirit will remain on our hearts forever.
Craig’s entire family extends their heartfelt gratitude to guardian angel caretaker Solomon Hunter and the staff at Talbot Hospice, Dana Farber-Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center (Dr. David Reardon, Dr. Antonio Chiocca and Jenn Stefanik), and Johns Hopkins’ Sibley Memorial Hospital (Dr. Matthias Holdhoff).
In lieu of flowers, donations in Craig’s memory may be made to: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (https://www.bccrs.org/donate-…) Gray for Glioblastoma (https://grayforglioblastoma.c…) or Talbot Hospice (https://talbothospice.org/don…)
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