Donald Irving Snitz

Donald Irving Snitz August 27, 1924-November 18, 2022 Donald Irving Snitz was a 32nd degree Mason and a Life Member, Valley of Tulsa, Orient of Oklahoma, A&A Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA, (Member No. 05645312) since 1949, a member of the Masonic Ivanhoe #446 Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Missouri (Member 76327), and a member of the Akdar Shriners International (Member #8801, Shrine ID #807463). He was a member of the BPOE, Order of the Elks, for 66 years. Don belonged to Meadowbrook Country Club for 36 years and joined Temple Israel in 1952. Just this year he joined Congregation Beth Or in Everett, Washington. Don was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where his Jewish education was of the Orthodox variety. His father owned a bar, The Keg, in Kansas City, and Don went to public school. As a young boy, he worked after school at his uncle's sporting goods store. It was there that the family met Harry Truman, who had a store nearby. Don shared a tent with the future President during a Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington, DC! He also made time to have a body-building gym in his family's garage and to play football. He grew up with a sister and yes, he had a dog, Boy, and there were cousins and aunts and uncles. After serving in the Navy as a weather reconnaissance pilot based in the Philippines, Don returned to Kansas City but after a few years, he and his bride, Ruth Borocoff, moved to Tulsa to be near her parents. They had two children, Ken and Cathie, and Don worked for his father-in-law, owner of the Globe Clothiers, eventually buying the business which he managed until his retirement. Don and Ruth joined Temple Israel, of course, and Don was the Men's Club's first President after the congregation moved to the current building on 22nd Place. He was also active in Scouting, sharing the experience of Ken becoming an Eagle Scout. Don and his second wife, Wanda, opened a second business venture, the Exodus Shop, which carried more "out there" clothing and also had a hair salon inside the shop, the first combination of its kind in Oklahoma. To do this, Don got a cosmetology license! Don adopted Wanda's family, so he added Donna to his growing circle of children and grandchildren. An avid golfer, Don joined Meadowbrook Country Club where he played at least twice a week until his last golf partner passed away around five years ago. He also enjoyed boating and for a while owned The Cherokee Queen on Grand Lake. He and Wanda had a second home at the lake, which they sold after Wanda became ill. Their primary residence was on 81st Street across from Meadowbrook, and was built by his son, Ken. It was a "party house," with two wet bars and a pool table. It also had a garden; Don loved trees and all kinds of plants and was a real "plant whisperer." After her stroke, Wanda lived at Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Center, which he called "Tulsa Jewish," for seven years where Don visited her nearly every day; he often helped Rabbi Weg with Shabbat services there. After Wanda died, Don's daughter-in-law Pat Snitz and Nancy Rosen's kids, Mirs and Melissa Von Aschen-Cook, made a "shidduch." It worked, and Nancy and Don were together for more than 10 years, moving to Washington state in June of 2021. He died at home, in their Edmonds Condo "with a view," which he enjoyed tremendously. Don loved to travel and he and Nancy shared fun experiences from the Arctic Circle (sled dog mushing) to the tip of South America and from Paris to the Yangtze River in China. When he became ill, he was planning a trip to Hawaii and Tahiti. Some of the last words he spoke were "do you have my money clip? Is the cab here?" He also loved reading and watching movies, especially the old ones that have a beginning, a middle, and an end, although he could surprise you by loving some odd films that he and Nancy saw at Circle Cinema. With Nancy, he became a fan of ballet and modern dance. Because he had become deaf, he could no longer enjoy jazz, although he and Nancy did frequent the Tulsa Jazz Hall of Fame for a while. We have so many memories in photos because Don was also an excellent photographer. Don loved his family and was in close contact with his children, even after he moved to the Pacific Northwest. Ken visited for a week when Don went into the hospital, and Cathie was in constant touch via phone. He was very proud of his grandchildren and concerned about the welfare of all of them, the greats and great greats, and would have not only approved but supported Rose's desire to work managing a Jewish musicians' conference the day of his funeral, with plans to watch virtually and visit the family during the Shiva. His grandson Aaron also had a work commitment�he is a wine distributor. His Zaydie would have supported their decisions to take their work seriously. Chase and Lori's three children are Don's great greats. He was so proud of the fine young man that Zach is becoming, and enthusiastically followed his progress with bowling. Zach is Jennifer's son. He also took pride in Greyson's success in the debate club and in Chase's career in the Marines. And in Cathie's success building her own business. And on and on. Don became Zaydie to more kids when he and Nancy became partners. He was adored by Nancy's children, Mirs and Melissa Von Aschen-Cook, and their sons, Alex and Aaron Cook, who all live nearby in the Seattle area. You can do a lot in 98 years if you are a man like Don, who "lived until he died," as the saying goes. What adjectives can describe Don? Good looking, responsible (he tried to make the bed before we left for the ER about sums it up), generous, empathetic, kind, strong, gentle, affectionate, fun-loving, resourceful, disciplined, and funny. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Temple Israel, 2004 East 22nd Place, Tulsa, OK 74114. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Tulsa. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151

Donald Irving Snitz

August 27, 1924 - November 18, 2022