Claudia Tenney: “In the words of Saint Teresa, ``Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all…”

“In the words of Saint Teresa, ``Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity.'' I rise today with great honor to recognize the extraordinary life of Attorney Donald Snyder of West Winfield, New York, who passed away last month. Don was a gem of a man and a wonderful servant to our community. Don was also admired by his peers. I remember Don being a very close friend of my father, the late Honorable Justice John R. Tenney, who always spoke so highly of Don as a person to model your career and your gift of service on. Don served our Nation in the Army, and he returned home to start a country law practice in little West Winfield, New York, in Herkimer County. Don was a wonderful servant who served on the board of Herkimer College for over 22 years and the chair for 12. Don was involved with so many organizations and schools and church organizations, but he was also a very dedicated husband to his wife, Mary Theresa Higgins, and a dedicated father of four and grandfather of 12. Nine people in Don's family are attorneys. They were all sworn in on the very same day by the U.S. Supreme Court, which made the front page news in our little town. Don was very proud of this. Don was a man who devoted his life to service, to happiness, and he couldn't have been a kinder person to me and a better friend and mentor for me as an attorney when I first started out many years ago.…”