The only sights more common than pained smiles were hugs at the Celebration of Life for coach/teacher Dave Snyder at the North Kitsap School District in Poulsbo June 29.

After Snyder’s untimely death devastated the community June 17 a candlelight vigil was held in his honor June 20. However, given time to plan, and the cooperation of NKHS outgoing principal Megan Sawicki, Joanna Pruden arranged a bigger event for the community. Pruden was a parent representative for one of the multiple sports Snyder coached.

Pruden said Snyder positively touched so many lives—evident by the 2,000 or more in attendance. She said that NKHS, and especially the coaching program “was his whole life,” and that he had a special way of developing sometimes hidden talents in people. Darren Prouse supported that statement. His son, an incoming sophomore, was involved in the football program, and Snyder had given him personal attention on speed training. Snyder was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator on the team. Prouse’s daughter had fond memories of Snyder as a history teacher.

Peter Blue, a staff member at NKHS and pastor at North Kitsap newlife church, opened the ceremony with a prayer. “This was the house that coach made a home” for the community, he said. Blue told many anecdotes about their time together, the impact Snyder had on the community, and said that Snyder was “ridiculously loyal.” He asked for everyone who knew Snyder to pull out their phone and turn on its flashlight, at which point thousands of phones lit up. Then he asked for anyone who’d had personal interactions with Snyder to waive their phone, at which point thousands of lit phones waived in the bleachers. He went on like that for several more questions, each of which implied a more meaningful, and personal interaction with Snyder.

Head football coach Jeff Weible followed. He, too, not only expressed heartfelt loss, but enjoyed the reverie of numerous amusing stories. In one account, after Weible had received an unsportsmanlike penalty, Snyder proceeded to…discuss his thoughts on the injustice of the call, with the referee. Unsympathetic, the referee doled out a similar penalty to Snyder. However, given that the team had received two unsportsmanlike penalties, it earned Weible an ejection from the game. As Weibel said, “Our eyes met, and it never happened again.”

Weible described Snyder as having five “passions”: family, coaching/teaching, volt yellow (which Weible insisted on referring to as “green” just to irritate Snyder, and which Snyder wore constantly), referees (which he really did appreciate and respect), and brotherhood. Regarding that last passion, he called Snyder a “brother in every sense of the word,” at which point he was visibly choked up, and fighting back tears. Snyder’s three daughters also spoke and shared stories of crazy, family life, and the depth of their relationships with their father. They also shared cherished memories, and some of Snyder’s “quirks,” like his favorite phrase: “Alexa, play country music.”

And on that note, Blue performed a medley of songs on guitar, beginning with Amazing Grace. He ended his performance with a song and a memory. The final thing after most games was when Snyder gathered the team and urged the players to take the game’s lessons to heart and to strive for improvement. It was always accompanied by country legend John Denver’s famous song “Take Me Home Country Roads,” which was also fitting for this occasion.

Snyder, 54, died while coaching at a football camp in Ellensburg. Nicknamed “Goose,” he went to Whitworth University and taught and coached at NKHS for 22 years. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and daughters Brittany, Hannah and Emily.

Kelvin Solsberry, left, Dave Snyder’s cousin, hugs and consoles Snyder’s aunt Jane before the ceremony.

Lots of hugs were seen around the stadium as people showed support for one another.

Head NKHS football coach Jeff Weible escorts Dave Snyder’s mother, Verna Snyder, to the family’s seats of honor at the celebration of Snyder’s life.

Referees from the Peninsula Football Officials Association show up in uniform to show their support for coach Dave Snyder.

Those who attended the celebration of Dave Snyder’s life were able to see various displays.