Obituary of James Taft Snow

James T. Snow, 68, national leader in golf course sustainability James Taft Snow, 68, of Basking Ridge, NJ, passed away on November 25, 2020, at home with his family, after a ten-year struggle with frontotemporal dementia. Jim was born on December 2, 1951, in Ithaca, NY, to the late Arthur Taft Snow, Jr., and Norma Eva Bailey. Raised in Trumansburg, NY, he was a 1970 graduate of Trumansburg Central School, where he was class president, and then received a BS and MS in horticulture from Cornell University. Jim continued to cherish his Trumansburg roots and connections throughout his life. For the last 21 years of his 35-year career at the U.S. Golf Association in Far Hills, NJ, Jim served as the national director of the Green Section and was a leader in fostering partnerships, education programs, and turfgrass research initiatives to make golf courses more sustainable and environmentally friendly. An excellent writer and public speaker, Jim also edited the Green Section Record publication and several important books about turfgrass science. In addition to his lifelong hobbies of nature photography, gardening, and genealogy research, Jim spent two decades as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 351 in Basking Ridge, where he enjoyed mentoring young people. Among the highlights of his life were several backpacking trips to various Western national parks with the Boy Scouts. Jim married Judith Mapes Lyman in 1984 and loved spending time with his family. He was a kind, loving, and easygoing husband and father. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Kevin Snow of Bedminster, NJ, daughter Valerie Snow of Philadelphia, PA, sister Holly (Bob) Weatherby of Trumansburg, NY, and nephews Casey, Gregg, and Brian Weatherby. He also leaves sister-in-law Gwen (Patrick) Apfel of St. Johnsville, NY, and nephews, Eric and Alexandre Apfel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim’s name may be made to: Audubon International, 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180, https://auduboninternational.org; the Michigan State University Turfgrass Information Center Endowment, Michigan State University Libraries, Attn: TIC Endowment, 366 W. Circle Dr., East Lansing, MI 48824, https://tic.msu.edu; or Boy Scout Troop 351, c/o Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 1 East Oak St., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.