FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale is mourning the loss of former high school football coach Donald Snyder.
Snyder died Aug. 4 at the age of 98.
Don Snyder Football Stadium, at Farmingdale High School, is named for the coach. Snyder had a 237-93-8 career record over 42 years as the head football varsity coach at Farmingdale, according to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
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Snyder led Farmingdale to 15 Conference Championships, 13 Big 4 Championships, and seven undefeated seasons, according to NYSPHSAA. The Dalers captured the Rutgers Cup six times as the top Nassau County team. Snyder’s 1972 squad was ranked sixth in the United States. Six years later, his 1978 team went undefeated and was not scored on once the entire season.
“‘We stand on the shoulders of giants’ is an expression I often use to celebrate the great men and women who have come before and set an example and a tone that still lives on,” Superintendent Paul Defendini told Patch. “There is no greater giant in Farmingdale’s storied history than Coach Snyder. His impact, long after he retired, is still felt by all that walk our halls. We will miss him but his legacy is forever secure in our community.”
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Ralph Atoria, who graduated Farmingdale High School in 1964, was coached by Snyder in wrestling for four years and played football under him in his senior year as a left out linebacker.
Atoria said Snyder’s disposition made him an effective coach.
“He never really yelled. He never got crazy,” Atoria told Patch. “Everything I learned about life, I learned from my coach. Play hard, give it your all, be a team member, work together and you can’t win them all. Rest in peace, Coach.”
Snyder also taught physical education and driver’s education, according to NYSPHSAA. He coached football, baseball, wrestling and track and field from 1950 through 1992.
He also served as vice president of the Section VIII Athletic Council and as Chairman of the Section VIII wrestling program. He was chairman of the Section V Appeals Committee and also the assistant coordinator of the County Football program. In 1997, Snyder was honored by the National Football Foundation and presented an award for his significant contributions to amateur football, according to NYSPHSAA. The same organization named a special award in Snyder’s honor— The Don Snyder Contribution to Amateur Football Award, which is now given annually to individuals committed to promoting amateur football on Long Island.
Snyder graduated LeRoy High School in Section V and earned a bachelor’s degree at Springfield and a master’s at Columbia University.
Atoria said there is a celebration of life service for Snyder planned at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at the United Presbyterian Church, at 474 Wantagh Ave., Levittown.
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