Youngest of Robert & Maryann Snyderwine Sr., having much gratitude for the love, support throughout my life.

Grandma Snyderwine would tell me, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.".

Dad told me early the story of opportunity. A young boy arrived at a local farm, looking for work. The farmer said "There's no work here son.". The boy persisted, "There must be something I can do !". So the farmer says, "See that stall, here's a pitchfork, clean that out and I'll give you a nickle.". So, the boy takes the pitchfork, looks in the stall and exclaims "Look at all that ! There must be a pony in there somewhere !". That's what the Marine Corps felt like.

Three best fishermen, Dad, Grandma & Uncle Tom. Why Uncle Tom? He jerks the bait away from the fish exclaiming "Get off the line !" Actually he is one of the best because he teaches "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he shall eat for a lifetime."

Grandma and I had some of the best times together fishing, cooking, and playing cards while listening to Pirates' games on the radio.

A few days before graduation at Parris Island, called home to let family know I was graduating early to get back to Gannon. Grandma answers the phone at 3006, ( I'm shocked fearing trouble) I ask for Mom & Dad. Grandma answers in sheer delight to hear my voice and says in a coying voice, "There not here, they are on their way to see you!".
I didn't know when they would arrive. That sunday morning I walked to the chapel, spotting a motorhome with Pennsylvania registration. I walked in to see Mom & Dad. There were at least 200 recruits at mass. We shook the roof with Swing Low Sweet Chariot, The Our Father and God bless America. Dad tells me he can remember that.

Sometimes Dad would drop me off at the foot of Sommerheim Pumping Station to go ice fishing.

I would fish my heart out, climb the hill and walk to St. Joseph's apartment, auger, sled, salamander, gear& bucket of perch. Grandma would clean & cook the perch.

Dad would let me take the Sea Nymph out alone before I had a drivers license !
One day in spring I was casting persistently along the stretch from the yacht club to Sommerhiem during a building Nor Easter.
Confidence wasn't high, believing conditions were not favorable.
The strike came by surprise, yet I could feel the muskie shake his head. I knew I was in for a fight ! I tired him out, and netted him.
Realizing not only was I late meeting Dad, the East wind was pushing me into less than two feet of water. The paddle wasn't enough to overcome a submerged pier. I mustered all my strength shoving off to safer depth.
All along, the muskie was causing a ruckuss on the deck. Finally, able to lower & fire up the 40 horse mercury, I quartered the 3'-4' waves back to meet Dad at the sand ramp. Dad saw me heading in and backed down the ramp. The waves were too rough to paddle on the trailer, so I jumped out and wrestled the boat to the trailer. Still excited, I told Dad about my first muskie ! Dad replies, "You aren't going to keep that thing are you?". My hands were cut and bleeding from his gill plates. I had hand to hand combat with that fish, no way was I going to release him ! Dad said so, so be it. The muskie was pretty worn out, after carefull coaching, while standing in that cold water he took off to fight another day...