We’ve all heard the old cliché, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and if you ask Dennis Winger ’69, he’ll probably tell you it’s true.
During his 45th Siena College reunion last summer, Winger came across a yearbook photo of Jim Snyder, the founder of Siena’s Mentoring Program, surrounded by children. Upon closer inspection, Winger also recognized a familiar face in the background—it was him as a college senior.
The picture sparked memories of the fall day in 1968 when it was taken. Winger was helping Snyder, run a picnic in scenic Thatcher Park for the children in the Mentoring Program, known at that time as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program.
While he was never a “big brother,” Winger dedicated a lot of time helping Snyder with the program. Those interactions had a profound impact on his life, just as they did for the thousands of Siena students and children Snyder affected during the more than 50 years he was associated with the College.
“A lot of good has been done at the influence of Jim Snyder,” Winger said. “I’m just proud to be one of those thousands of people who had a chance to interface with him.”
Winger slid the keepsake into the pocket of his blazer and brought it back home to California. A few weeks later, as he was preparing to take his coat to the cleaner, Winger found the picture and placed it on his dresser.
That’s when the photo started to speak its mind.
“Every day, I’m looking at this picture. And every day, more and more, I’m starting to get a message that I’m supposed to be doing something here,” Winger said.
At first, he wasn’t sure what it was telling him to do, but after he thought about it for a while, Winger realized that he was being called to honor his mentor and friend Jim Snyder, who passed away in February.
He told his wife, Barbara Waldman, that he wanted to have Siena’s new residence hall named in Snyder’s honor saying, “We have to do one of two things: We either have to get Siena to rename new hall Snyder Hall or we have to put that picture back in the closet.”
Waldman agreed and the couple made a substantial leadership gift to Siena that allowed for the naming of Snyder Hall, which was officially dedicated and blessed during a special ceremony on December 4.
“Their gift, and other gifts that they have made, has helped us in different ways continue the work of Jim, and for that we are deeply grateful,” said Siena College President Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph.D.
Snyder’s family was touched by the event and the outpouring of love and support.
“His goal was to work here long enough to earn a chair. I promise he never imagined this beautiful building,” said Snyder’s wife Teresa Thayer Snyder, Ph.D.
Snyder said that her late husband loved Siena students and the thousands of “littles” who crossed the campus as part of the Mentoring Program, which remains an integral part of the Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy.
“In these uncertain times, Jim would want me to say that we should remember that we are all family,” Snyder said. “He would want us to remember what he believed most profoundly, that each of us can change this world one child at a time.”
Snyder brought children from the Albany area to campus and paired them with volunteer Siena students, inspiring many to attend college. Some, like accounting major J’Vanay Santos ’16, came full circle by enrolling at Siena. She was first introduced to Snyder when she entered the Mentoring Program as a feisty fifth grader.
“I would not be here today if it was not for him being such a big piece in my life,” Santos said, adding that Snyder never judged and always sought to find the good in people.
“He wasn’t helping those who were less fortunate,” Santos said. “He was simply expanding his family and showing others the same compassion he raised his own children with.”
Much like the building that now bears his name will do for generations of Siena students, the Mentoring Program continues to provide a fun, safe environment in which to learn and grow. While it’s not what he might have pictured, it’s safe to say that Snyder is watching over the building and the program from heaven, interested to see how future generations of students will develop.
