We regret to advise of the death of Captain Beverly “Bev” Wells Snyder, MiD, (Ret’d) at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, AB on 01 August 2003* at the age of 85.
Bev was born in Toronto, ON yet he considered himself a true Calgarian, having attended the first Calgary Stampede in 1912. He was educated at Ramsay Elementary, East Calgary High School, and the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where he received his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 1931 as a member of a class of seven. Bev’s first job was with the City of Calgary as a surveyor of what is now Glenmore Dam. In November1933 he commenced employment with Canadian Western Natural Gas Company and retired forty years later. In 1968 he was appointed their Vice President, Engineering and Rates Administration, a position he held to retirement. He helped engineer the original gas distribution system in Alberta and became a gas-rates expert at hearings before the Public Utilities Board.
Bev was a WW II veteran who served with the Royal Canadian Engineers from 1939 to 1945. He originally served with the 13th Field Company, and later as a Captain at Canadian Army Headquarters where his expertise at reading aerial photographs was instrumental in efforts to open the Port of Antwerp, which eventually led to liberation of The Netherlands. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for his work in the interpretation of air photographs for the planning of engineer operations. The work involved continuous and most exacting effort over long periods and the information he produced assisted his superior officers to make decisions and produce the sound plans which resulted in the liberation of Belgium and Holland with the minimum expenditure of lives. He was also decorated by the Governments of Belgium and The Netherlands in recognition of significant contributions to the liberation of their countries.
Bev had life-memberships in the Engineering Institute of Canada, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and the Canadian Gas Association. He had a fifty-plus year career as a Mason (and Past Master of King George Masonic Lodge, Calgary) and a Honourary 33rd Degree Member of the Scottish Rite.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Avenue S.W., Calgary on 27 August at 12:30 p.m. following a private, family graveside ceremony. Donations may be made to Scarboro United Church or to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada, 433 Marlborough Way N.E., Calgary. In living memory, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial Chapel. {gdOct2016kh}
* exact date of death unknown
