David Alan Snyder's life was marked by invention, adventure and sharing his passions with those around him. He passed away suddenly on March 29, 2023, at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ann, their three children, Alison, Steven, and Julie, and two grandchildren, Ada (Alison) and Otto (Steven).

Born to William and Harriet (Klingaman) Snyder on Oct. 26, 1950, in Allentown, PA, David was the older brother to Carl, Bruce (dec. 2006) and Mark. He grew up in Coopersburg, PA and graduated from Southern Lehigh High School.

After high school, David pursued his lifelong passion of engineering. He began his undergraduate studies on a full scholarship at MIT in 1969, before taking a short break as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War. He returned to MIT and, in 1977, graduated with his Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. That year he began his decades-long career at Bell Labs. At the same time, he attended Lehigh University and, in 1980, received his Master's degree in electrical engineering. His combined training in mechanical and electrical engineering was rare at the time and afforded him a unique ability to solve problems efficiently.

During his career, David worked on the first compact discs and the fiber optic link for Apple Computer that was the precursor to what is now known as Firewire. The chips he designed in the 1990s were the workhorse for most of the transmitters sold by AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He also built hardware deployed at the Very Large Array in New Mexico where scientists search for extraterrestrial signals. He co-founded OptronX and was a member of a team that made pioneering contributions to silicon photonics technology for fiber optics that is ubiquitous in the telecommunications industry. David was employed at several telecommunications companies and received multiple patents for his engineering designs. He was working as an engineer at Aayuna at the time of his death.

Alongside his professional work, David pursued a range of creative pursuits. He and his wife Ann converted a 19th century schoolhouse into their home, including a shop where David liked to tinker endlessly. He was a master engineer who also enjoyed epic projects with family and friends, including building a Tesla coil and his annual Christmas putz. He was also an avid rock climber and telemark backcountry skier, and he enjoyed hiking, camping and exploring the natural world.

David lived MIT's motto of mens et manus — mind and hand. He was inquisitive and inventive, as well as kind, compassionate and deeply curious about the world.

David will be remembered in a service at St. John's United Church of Christ on Saturday, April 8 at 11 a.m. Calling hours will take place at the church beginning at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in David's name to the Palisades Community Foundation or to MIT for the PRIMES Endowment Fund #3653720. Online gifts can be made using the following website: https://giving.mit.edu/david-snyder; if by check, it should be made payable to MIT, include David's name in the memo line or cover note, and mail to:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PO Box 412926

Boston, MA 02241-2926

Attention: Memorial Gifts Office