Hunter S. Snevily, 57, of Moscow Hunter St. Clair Snevily came into this life able to count all of his fingers and toes from his very first day on this earth – June 15, 1956. The world lost a theoretical mathematics genius early on Nov. 11, 2013, when, at the young age of 57, he quietly gave up his long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. A vital and ambitious student, Hunter was born and began his education in New Jersey, son of Robert and Yvonne (Hunter) Snevily, later studying at the Citadel. He graduated from Emory University in 1981 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Urbana, in 1991. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech, where he mentored many students, Hunter took a faculty position at the University of Idaho in 1993 where he was a professor until 2010. He continued his math research during his retirement, co-authoring papers with mathematicians throughout the world, thanks to the Internet. For a taste of mathematical virtuosity, you might search for “Snevily’s conjecture.” Hunter was an avid tennis player, runner and hiker, who loved the outdoors and beautiful back country excursions afforded by a quiet life in Moscow. Prior to his early retirement, Hunter’s creative mind expanded to include prolific writing of short stories – some poignantly serious, many humorous, some simply surrealistic and bizarre. Even more than math, Hunter found his greatest joy in his two children: daughter, Madison, and son, (Nicholas) John. He held loving pride for them and for all the hard work they put into their lives. Their accomplishments and the bright careers that lie before them lit up his days. In addition to his children, Hunter extended his generous caring to so many other young people, including the numerous math students he encouraged, mentored, and supported throughout the years. He later shared his life with Vic Getz and Nancy Morrison and was assisted by friend Elsie Sakuma who helped see him through his final years. Hunter is survived by his children and their mother, his former wife, Harriet Mcquarie; as well as his brother, Kirk Snevily of Bedminster, N.J.; and sister, Lea Snevily Plummer of Stockton, N.J. Special thanks to Katie Gurske and to Trinley Wheelhouse of Hospice for the compassion and caring they extended to him. Hunter will be loved, missed and remembered forever by all who knew him. Tags: 1980
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