Frederick "Fred" Snook, 75, of Chagrin Falls, passed away peacefully Monday, July 11, 2022, surrounded by family.

The son of the late Hal Snook and Romola Richards was born in Akron, Ohio on May 30th, 1947.  He was a graduate of Copley High School where he was involved in running on the track and field team.  He continued his education at Ohio University where he graduated with an English Education Degree.

Fred started his career teaching High School English at Warrensville Heights High School for eight years before taking a job at Crestwood High School.  He would finish his career as a Red Devil, retiring in 2005.  During his time at Crestwood High School he was well known as the Freshman English teacher instilling his love of literature, especially The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  In addition to teaching English, Fred was also active in directing numerous plays and musicals.

Fred's love of teaching could best be seen throughout the decades he spent as Crestwood's Speech and Debate Coach.  Even upon retirement from teaching, Fred continued his love of teaching the art of the spoken word as he became an assistant coach at Kenston High School.  During his time as a coach, he coached countless students to both the Ohio Speech and Debate Association Tournament and the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament.  He served the state as a member of the Ohio High School Speech League board member, and was a district chairman for the Cleveland Speech and Debate district.  A three-diamond coach, as recognized by the NSDA, his peers voted him to the Ohio Speech Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996.  Further, the Cleveland district remembers his influential legacy by giving the C. Frederick Snook Coach of the Year Award to the most outstanding coach in the district every year.

Fred enjoyed traveling internationally with Crestwood students as he would co-lead several groups of Crestwood students to Europe during the summer.  As a teacher, he enjoyed watching the expressions on their faces as they experienced firsthand the places they had studied in class.

Fred was best known for his larger-than-life sense of humor and affinity for telling stories (that always seemed to slightly change).  Fred was an avid golfer, enjoying the links twice a week with his golfing buddies in the Northeastern Ohio Nomads, where he acted as the self-appointed historian.  He enjoyed classical music and enjoyed playing euchre and Trivial Pursuit.  He also loved spending time with family, and really enjoyed being with his grandkids and watching them play sports, either volleyball, baseball, or softball.

Fred leaves behind his beloved wife Stephanie (Bentzen), whom he married on July 14th, 1973; sisters Carolyn Young of Hudson and Diana Curtis of Akron; many nieces and nephews; son Devon (Kendra) Snook of Huron; and three grandchildren Mary, Lucas, and Mallory Snook.

Family will receive friends and all well-wishers on Saturday, July 16th, 2022 from 4:00 pm until  8:00 pm, as well as Sunday, July 17th, 2022 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm in the Crown Hill Funeral Home, 8592 Darrow Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087.

Following the wake on Sunday, July 17th there will be a vigil service at 3:00 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions take the form of donations to the Ohio Speech and Debate Association, 2933 Glaston Oaks Ct., Toledo, Ohio, 43617; donations could also be made to University Hospitals, specifically the Neuroscience ICU; or to St. Jude's Hospitals.

Caring and Professional Arrangements for the Snook family are under the direction of the Crown Hill Funeral Home, Twinsburg.