I heard on Monday that Bob Snyder hated everything I wrote about him over the years. Well, this time, he’s no longer around to complain about it!

Bob Snyder passed away on Saturday. Bob was instrumental in the development of the Nor’Easter Club. He owned the Catawba Leasing Company, and previously co-owned Riehl Manufacturing Company, Port Clinton Prop Repair, Cedarlane Campgrounds, and Catawba Mid-Way Marina.

Bob went on to develop Catawba Mini & Heated Boat Storage, The Marsh’s Edge subdivision, Catawba Bay subdivision, and the expansion of the Sutton Center. Bob was a philanthropist of the first order, especially locally.

He began in business locally with his father in the excavating business in the early 70s. I was told that he was an “artist with dirt.”

He was active with United Way of Ottawa County, along with many other charities. He and his wife, Linda, assisted Mary Heineman in converting the old Heineman Distributing Company into the Portage Resale Center, which has given back hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities. He came up with the idea of converting a portion of the purchase dollars and monthly maintenance fees into community donations titled “Caring, Giving Communities.”

Last December, he underwent quintuple bypass surgery at Cleveland Clinic and suffered several major strokes while on the operating table. He once told me about watching his mother’s passing. She was sleeping quietly, then suddenly opened her eyes, looked up to heaven, and said “wow!”

I only hope that Bob had the same experience. It’s hard to imagine the local business community without Bob Snyder. I’m going to miss him. My sincere condolences to his wife Linda, and his children Erika and Brian.

I also learned of the passing of Connie Link, former teacher and wife of teacher and coach Dave Link. Anyone and everyone who knew Connie loved her. She was ALWAYS smiling.

Over 40% of Ottawa County residents have received the Covid 19 vaccinations as of last Tuesday. Nobody died of the pandemic this past week here according to the Ottawa County Health Department.

Kathy Duibley was chosen from among 127 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Lake Erie Tree Service on Page 5B in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations Kathy. You are the winner of our weekly $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores.

Each week we hide Wylie Walleye in an ad and our readers, when one of them finds him, can either bring in a contest entry cut out of the paper or log onto our website … www.thebeacon.net … and let us know where he is, thus entering, and possibly winning our weekly contest.

When you see him, be sure to wish a belated happy birthday to Mark Hablitzel of Catawba. Mark turned 75 on Tuesday! He still looks like he did as a high school senior.

SIMPLE GESTURES is celebrating its 6th Anniversary this month. After collecting  17,727 useful items and products for women, men, and children, and at times, collaborating with local organizations, 54 distributions have been delivered throughout Ottawa County.

Created by Kathy Jo Schweitzer in 2015, SIMPLE GESTURES has become a great way for those who wish to do something for others, have a wonderful opportunity to do so. They know they can choose which needs or requests they wish to participate in. The program’s now 90 SG Contributors List includes people of all ages.

This program allows them to do that in a very SIMPLE way. If interested, contact Kathy Jo at MSKJS10@gmail.com and details of the program will be emailed.

Congratulations to Rick LaFountain for attaining his 500th victory as tennis coach at Oak Harbor High School. Quite a feat!

Port Clinton’s P.E.O. Chapter AI has announced the recipients of their scholarships for 2021-22. They are: Cara Linn, Ashland University; Hanna Cross, senior at Port Clinton High School; Macey Wilhite, senior at Danbury High School; Lauren Shaw, Ohio Northern University; Elena Kessler, John Carroll University; Sydney Moore, senior at Port Clinton High School; and Hannah Moore, Ohio University, who also received the Lois Orr Scholarship. A total of over $5,800 was awarded to these seven ladies.

Otterbein Senior Life resident, Ann Arnold concentrates on a Spring art project.