Dr. James Snaden

Dr. James N. Snaden, loving husband and father, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.  He was surrounded by his family.

He was Emeritus Professor of Geography at Central Connecticut State University where he taught for 35 years, from 1966 to 2001, serving also as Geography Department Chairperson for ten years and as Coordinator of the University’s Latin American Studies Program for more than twenty years.  He also taught at Eastern Michigan University, Charter Oak State College in Connecticut, and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan.

He received his B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1959 and his Ph.D. in geography from The University of Michigan in 1974. He was a member of a number of professional associations including Gamma Theta Upsilon, The Association of American Geographers, the National Council for Geographic Education, and the Reserve Officers Association. He received the NCGE Distinguished College Teacher Award in 2001.

He was a member of the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for 34 years.  He received his commission in the Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1958. He served on active duty during the Berlin Crisis and Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961 and 1962.  He received the Meritorious Service Medal and two Army Commendation medals, among other awards.  He retired in 1989 with the rank of full colonel.

In his civilian career, he was a specialist in the human geography of Latin America and in computer mapping.  He published over 75 articles during his professional career, mostly for encyclopedias.  Using the knowledge of civil preparedness he gained while in the Army, he served eight years as Director of Emergency Operations for the city of New Britain, CT.

He was a summer resident on Torch Lake, Michigan for many years.  He and his wife retired there in 2002. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in December of 1937, he is survived by his wife Tracy (Trevino), whom he married in August of 1959, by his son William (and wife Kathianne), by his daughter Sandra, and by five grandchildren, Elena, Victoria, Ashley, Katherine, and Chase, as well as many friends.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 11th at 2pm at the Central Lake United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Biteman officiating.  Graveside services with military honors will follow in Southern Cemetery, Central Lake.   Funeral services were also held in Newington, CT.

Local arrangements have been handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.