Saratoga Springs, NY -  A funeral mass will be celebrated for William Fortune Snyder on September 26 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs. 

Bill passed away peacefully after a long illness on March 13, 2020. He was born in Scranton, PA on June 24, 1941 to Dorothy Hutchings and Robert Fortune Snyder. He was predeceased by his father, mother, sister Elizabeth, and daughter-in-marriage, Shannon.

Bill is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder; sons George Fortune, William Severin (Mary), Richard Bennett (Denise); grandchildren Giovanna, Bennett, Josephine, Corrine; his sister and brother in marriage, Michele Barbagallo (Peter) and  Frank Benedetto (Michele), several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many cousins and friends.

Bill attended Blair Academy in New Jersey and Eastwood High School in Syracuse. He was known in Syracuse, NY as Bill Fortune, radio host of Wheel of Fortune, producer of a Sherlock Holmes radio drama series and weather man on WHEN-TV. He attended the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.  He taught communications at Lemoyne College, was Program Manager at WCNY, Syracuse Public TV and a reporter for the Syracuse Herald Journal. He co-produced two Summer Theatre seasons in Camillus NY.   He was a member of Syracuse IATSE local and served as technical director for the first productions of the Syracuse Symphony Opera.  He was a dedicated supporter of the Syracuse Symphony.

After moving to the Capital District in 1967, he graduated from SUNY Albany in Theatre and Music with honors.  He was a reporter, Arts Editor and News anchor at WRGB Ch. 6 in Schenectady, NY.  While at WRGB, he produced a documentary on the SUNY Albany Children's Theatre's tour to Moscow, John Houseman's Premiere for The Empire State Youth Theatre Institute, and another on Eugene Ormandy and George Balanchine at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  He donated his time and talent to the New York State Theatre Institute. He won an Audie, an Emmy and was a Trustee of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Bill was invited to travel with Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller on several press engagements. Bill was deeply honored to serve Governor Hugh L. Carey as Assistant Press Secretary, Deputy Press Secretary, and Director of Communications from 1977 through 1983.  Bill directed Governor Mario M. Cuomo's two inaugurations for television and was Director of SUNY's New York Network until the time of his retirement.

A resident of Saratoga Springs for 49 years, Bill renovated a historic home on North Broadway, which became one of the locations for the movies Ghost Story and Billy Bathgate.

He co-established The Creative Place International, Inc. in Saratoga Springs, a not-for-profit theatre arts program for young people and adults in 2010. He co-produced Jeffrey Sweet's play, KUNSTLER Off-Broadway in 2017.  Bill served as CPI Chairman of the Board for ten years.

Bill's family is grateful to Dr. Desmond R. DelGiacco, Dr. Rodney Ying, Norman Bove, Saratoga Hospital, Dr. Nicholas Kondo, and Dr. Gloria Ethier for their exceptional care.

Contributions can be made in Bill's memory to:  Saratoga Hospital Foundation  , 211 Church Street or The Creative Place International, PO Box 99, both in Saratoga Springs NY, 12866.

For those who cannot attend, Bill's funeral mass will be livestreamed on  St. Clement's Facebook page  .

Arrangements are under the direction of William J. Burke & Sons.

Online condolences may be made at  www.burkefuneralhome.com