Tonight, I will join many others in saying farewell to a great man. Hank Jim Snow, Sr. put in 42 with the United States Air Force and was a UD Flyers season ticket holder for 58 years. He climed Mt. Fuji. He founded the South Dayton Flyers Track Club, coaching youth track and field, including cross country, until he was 80; two years later, he was inducted into the Dayton Distance Running Hall of Fame. He loved music, all kinds. Saw all the legendary big bands when he was growing up, and took his son, Jim Jr., to see many of the seminal rock bands that toured through Hara Arena back in the day. When his wife (whom, unfortunately, I never knew) passed, Jim returned the favor and took him to pretty much every jazz and rock concert that came through this region for more than a decade after. I met him, and Jim and Marcia, when I was mainlining live jazz four or five nights a week at Pacchia 1.0, way back in 02, when I was twenty. Every night there was music, there they were. Hank loved himself a good Manhattan. As I got to know them all better, I would eventually share many milestones with them, including birthdays (Jim, remember that one at Peachs during the HORRIBLE snowstorm?!), Christmas Eves, and even (a couple of lifetimes ago) my engagement party. Hank was always goin--and if the feelin was right and he had a good partner, hed get up and cut a rug. He was one of my heroes. And, more than any other great thing he did, he raised another great man. As Hank battled Alzheimers these last few years, Jim stepped up in absolutely every way a child could for a parent, and I simply cannot imagine a better son. The way Jim cared for his dad in his final years is the greatest living testament to the respect and bond they shared--and that will live on. Hank loved Glenn Miller, and so I post this song in his honor while choosing a tie for this evenings service. So long, buddy. When ya see Don, get him a Dewars and tell em to put it on my tab; theyll know when to find me.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:29:29 +0000
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