Remembering Councilwoman Jayne Snyder
By: Ian Hest
ihest@klkntv.com
City Councilwoman, Jayne Snyder, passed away overnight after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Today, many remembered her life and the difference she made on our city.
Jane Synder left a lasting legacy on the city of Lincoln. Early Thursday, Jayne Snyder lost her fight with pancreatic cancer. She was 66. Snyder served on the Lincoln City Council since May of 2009. Influential in many projects, she was especially passionate about the health of local residents . The Jayne Snyder Trails Center in Union Plaza is named in her honor.
“I'll remember her warmness, first of all in a personal sense in dealing with her on a day-to-day basis. Her sense of humor and her sense of acceptance of a broad variety of people and philosophies,” said Mayor Chris Beutler.
Snyder was diagnosed in July of last year. She served Lincoln until the very end, resigning her council position just last month. Mayor Beutler said it was that dedication that impressed him the most. “The time since her diagnosis she became a model in a completely different sense for a lot of us. She showed us how to die. She really did. She was amazing.”
Snyder played a prominent role in the Haymarket Arena Project. She served as a chair of the joint public agency overseeing construction. On September 7th, she spoke of her vision for the arena. “I can stand here and hear the crowds cheering, I can stand here and look at a vision of people billing through that street, festivals, football games, basketball games, concerts all to bring in great economic development to the city of Lincoln.”
Friends say because of her, that vision will live on. Memorial services will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at First Plymouth Congregational Church. People are asked in Liew of flowers to donate to a memorial fund in her honor at St. Elizabeth's.
