TONY SNOW DIES AT 53.

I am deeply and profoundly saddened this morning to learn of the death of Tony Snow.
The prayers of my entire family extend to the family members of Tony Snow, who has fought the great fight and has finished his race. (2 Timothy).
A little after 7am this morning, I was making coffee. I had flipped on the TV earlier, but the volume was down so it was very quiet. I had taken 2 phone calls and then I happened to hear the name "Tony Snow" and knew he had to have passed away, as he wouldn't have been being mentioned so early on a Saturday morning. He hasn't worked in the past several months, as he battled colon cancer.
Tony Snow was born in Kentucky, was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Davidson College in North Carolina.
He got his writing career off to a start working for the Greensboro Record, the evening paper in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is now defunct, but I remember it well as a child. The Record merged with the Greensboro Daily News forming the current Greensboro New and Record.
I always have loved the "guy next door" feeling you got from reading, watching or listening to Tony Snow. Commitments were significant for Snow. He made it clear right out of the gate that his faith and Christianity were most important to him. First God, then his family, and then that same commitment to his his country. Tony was equally as light and funny and had a wicked sense of humor. I believe him to be the best press secretary for any presidency in my memory...perhaps because he "was the best" at anything he attempted, always reaching higher to squeeze every moment out of life. He had "that smile" and he used it constantly as he deftly answered questions and took the hot seat for the White House. I remember being so disappointed when he left Fox News. But perfectly in keeping with his career, he moved on to better things. He wanted to try radio and of course he excelled. Next you hear he accepted the position as White House Press Secretary in 2006, which was a huge leap. (He also worked in the George H.W. Bush administration as chief speech writer.) He was only in the position of Press Secretary for a year and a half before the cancer returned, having spread to his liver. Snow made the decision to leave the White House to make provisions to make more money for his family, to be closer to them and work hard at fighting cancer. In Snow's own words, he said he didn't believe you "ever arrived." He believed you kept moving forward, trying new things and he was unafraid. I remember the day that Tony Snow announced that the cancer had returned and Snow followed that statement with what a lucky guy he was. Incredible. I remember President Bush was going on about health insurance on Fox News Sunday once and after a couple of minutes of what Snow deemed "rambling," he actually cut President Bush to the chase and said, "so what you're saying is that we need to buy our own health insurance?" The President laughed and said, "You mean my answer was too long?" To which Snow, warmly and in "his way" laughed and said "Yes."
Tony was the REAL DEAL. He played several (accordian, harmonica, flute, guitar, among them!) instruments, he loved rock and roll music... and anything "media"...movies, music, you name it... Tony Snow loved it all.
I can say personally that if you wrote to Tony Snow, he wrote you back. Period. End of story. I never met him, we did exchange emails from time to time and each one was more inspiring than the previous one. I felt a deep admiration to Snow for being such a professional, a man who deeply loved his family and finally such a real friend with real character to ALL American citizens. He even wrote in one email that he tried to respond to each card and email he received. I cannot even imagine that. I was truly honored to see a name such as TONY SNOW in my inbox and know it wasn't junk. It actually made me nervous to have any exchange with a man of such intelligence! He somehow had a balance and a passion for the American people. He wanted to reach us all. He was "normal." He was truly excited to "talk" to the American public. I have emails from Snow in which he thanked ME for writing (HUH?), he reminded me to pray for him and didn't mind showing his human side...even to a stranger. He didn't take his battle with cancer lightly. He truly fought as well as LIVED in the process, knowing he was dying.
Roger Ailes called Tony Snow a "Renaissance Man." I love that term, as it's also thrown about my own house but, in another context.
"God, Family and Country" were how Tony Snow lived his life. We can look at his short life and allow his legacy be that we are better people as a result as of having his insights in our living rooms, on our newspapers and through our radios.
Anyone would be hard pressed to find a picture of Tony NOT smiling. He was a great American. He thrived on serving and helping others. He had the gift of being able to disagree in a kind way. His modesty didn't allow for him to be showered with praise for his talent. At 84, President George H.W. Bush said this morning, "He wasn't a legacy kind of guy." Barbara Bush (called "The Boss" by her husband in a phone interview on Fox News) spoke through obvious tears about his unfaltering loyalty and said she and President Bush 41 extend their love to the family.
I'm still not sure the American public knew what it had in terms of a real watchdog and human being who looked out for us politically. Snow was a real guy with an incredible magnetism and way of communicating that he quite simply drew his audience in. Once there, you never left him. A clearly red-eyed Juan Williams said "Tony was looking out for you even when you weren't looking." What a tribute. We can all learn from someone who demonstrated that you can disagree, even vehemently on something and still be 'nice' about it. Everything doesn't have to be drama-filled and exhausting.
God bless the Snow family. Overnight, while America was sleeping, Tony Snow was able to touch the face of God shortly after 2am while in Georgetown Hospital in DC. I'm sure he'd quip, "WOW! What a great way to start a Saturday!" That was how Tony Snow viewed everything...wide open and with wonder.
I hope we will all remember to laugh and let that indeed be a legacy of Tony Snow. When he laughed, he laughed all over and rays of sunshine went everywhere. Rest peacefully now Tony. You will be greatly missed and you will never be forgotten for your great service to our country.
The only thing I could obviously find "wrong" (if I must) with Tony Snow was that the man couldn't dance! I had to laugh as I watched footage of him dancing with a tambourine...I'm sure Tony would laugh too, admit he couldn't dance and remind us all that you at least have to TRY!
Till next time,
Annie

|