A career in finance reinforced Dave Snowbeck's sardonic wit, with favorite sayings ranging from "Life is not fair" and "Beware the articulate incompetent" to "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone's not out to get you." But at heart, he was an optimist who pushed his children to seek principled progress and meaningful work in their lives, rather than strive for money or worry over the elusive goal of perfection.
David Alden Snowbeck died Saturday, Sept. 5, at age 78 in Baguio City, Philippines. Born in New Ulm, Minn., he grew up in Blair, Neb., and graduated from Dana College in 1963. After working at a bank in Omaha, he moved in the 1960s to the Twin Cities for work at Northwest Bancorporation. In the 1970s, he moved his family to Wheaton, Ill., and became a municipal bond mutual fund manager at Stein Roe & Farnham. He was a partner at the investment firm before retiring in the early 1990s. Dave went on to co-own Robin's Bookshop in Geneva, Ill., before doing consulting work with restaurants. In 2010, he moved to Baguio City, Philippines, where he co-owned Sunlace Art. He was diagnosed this summer with multiple myeloma and pneumonia.
Dave ran a bond fund out of Chicago when the market was hot and unsuspecting buyers could lose their shirts. He succeeded with a mathematical approach that delivered top performance while avoiding the legendary exploits of some salesmen during the 1980s. In quieter times, Dave played piano, tackled woodworking projects and documented his world through writing and photography. With reading interests that stretched from biography and Buddhism to philosophy and psychology, Dave often reflected on the struggles of individuals, organizations and communities, and how they might do better.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, A.J. and Bernice, and is survived by: his first wife, Judy of St. Paul; his second wife, Rosario of Baguio City; and his sister, Mary Ellen Boynton (John) of Shoreview. Survivors include three children: Erik (Rene') of Ross, Ohio; Christopher (Diane Mancini) of St. Paul; and Ann of Minneapolis. He's also survived by: three granddaughters, two nephews and a niece in the U.S.; and Rosario's children and grandchildren in the Philippines. The family is planning a memorial service. Contact SnowbeckMemorial@gmail.com for details.