Dear Friends,
Were he still with us, my brother Peter would have celebrated his 57th birthday this week, on March 8. Like most kids growing up, he always looked forward to his birthday. But after turning 8, it wasn’t his favorite day of the year; that would be the day the Bear took him to Camp Lawrence for the summer. From four weeks as an 8-year-old during the summer of 1975 until his passing in 2019, Bear Island was his favorite place on earth.
By the time he was a middle unit camper, he was spending 8 weeks at camp and was known as “Little Snowy.” He tried just about every activity available and loved them all, but waterskiing and seamanship were his favorites. He became an expert in both slalom and trick skis, and if you couldn’t find him on the main campus, he was likely at West Beach spotting skiers on the Ski Tique or at the main dock helping EK on the Bear.
As a staff member, Peter continued to gravitate towards the water, teaching swimming and waterskiing. After working as a counselor, he became part of the camp leadership, serving as Junior Unit Head and supporting the Program Director, his best friend Bob Hamblet. By this time, everyone at camp called him “Snowy.” During the last few of his 18 full-time summers on the island, Snowy was transportation director, so he was a fixture at both camps and the Y Landing, piloting the Bear, the Monark, and the Ski Tique.
Even when a full-time career took over his summers, Peter continued to support Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis as a volunteer. Back then, there was no software available that could automate the tedious process of assigning camper activities. So, Peter wrote the software and supported it at both camps.
Another one of his passions was photography, and Peter’s favorite subject was Bear Island. If you see a panoramic or drone photo of one of the camps, it’s a good bet that it’s “a Snowy.” He also spent countless hours scanning the Camps’ photo archives and used them to design slideshows for milestone events such as the 100th anniversary of Camp Lawrence and Debbie Parker’s retirement after 63 years at Camp Nokomis. Snowy was inducted into the Camp Lawrence Hall of Fame in 2009.
Peter Snow’s love for Camp Lawrence as a camper and staff member grew stronger every year and as an adult, it transformed into a lifelong dedication to supporting both island camps. I was blessed to call Peter “Brother.” The Camp Nokomis and Camp Lawrence community had the good fortune to call him “the Bear Island I.T. guy”, “the camp photographer”, the “Camping Services Board Chair”, and best of all, “our dear friend Snowy.”
As part of the Y’s Complete the Fleet Campaign to update and provide for the transportation needs of Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis, Bob Hamblet and I are looking to raise $150,000 to name two new ski boats after Snowy.
To celebrate Peter’s birthday, please join me in honoring his legacy by contributing to the campaign. In doing so, we not only honor Peter’s memory but also ensure that his passion lives on, providing future generations of campers with the same sense of joy, adventure, and camaraderie that he cherished.
If you would like to send a check or make a pledge payable over two years, please contact Joyce Grippen, Chief Development Officer at jgrippen@mvymca.org.
Together, let’s celebrate Peter’s life.
In Gratitude,
David Snow, CL 1972-1984, CNP 2016-2022