Elaine Hurowitz Snider died peacefully at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Sept. 19 surrounded by her loving family. Born in New York City, Elaine was the daughter of Beatrice and Murray Hurowitz, whom she adored, and sister to Naomi (Selbst) and Gloria (Tempchin), with whom she shared a joyous, lifelong bond.
When Elaine was one, the family moved to the Washington, D.C., area, where she would spend the rest of her life — with fondly remembered childhood summers in Monticello, New York, and, later, cherished family gatherings at a lake house in Maine. A graduate of Calvin Coolidge High School, Elaine was a sorority sister of Alpha Epsilon Phi at the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree in education. She taught kindergarten in Maryland for two years.
In 1955, she married Jerome – Jerry – Snider. They had three children, Holly, Bruce and Lauren, and remained loving and devoted partners until his death in 2009. Elaine and Jerry made a formidable team, and together they set an enduring example of leadership, compassion and service for their family, a vast circle of friends and the larger community.
Known by all for her effortless grace, sunny disposition and easy laugh, Elaine greeted even absolute strangers with the kindness and respect she would extend to a friend. Whether speaking at the lectern of an awards dinner, playing tennis with friends, or joking around with a young grandchild, she was always the same person: smart, agelessly buoyant and always the best company.
Elaine was an active supporter of and volunteer for Service Guild of Washington, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Israel Bonds and Jewish Social Service Agency, where she served as board chair and was instrumental in establishing the JSSA Hospice program. Her devotion to JSSA took on a personal dimension when Jerry became a hospice client in 2009. Elaine later described the experience as a “full circle” moment. It was a feeling that her family and her devoted caregivers, Norma Daly and Kim Martin, shared as JSSA hospice nurses who provided the care and support that allowed her to remain both comfortable and connected in her last days.
Elaine is survived by son Bruce (Liz Soloway) Snider and daughter Lauren (Gene) Sachs; grandchildren Sam Kopit, Brett and Liza Sachs, and Ari, Jesse and Daniel Snider; and great-grandson Harry Kopit. Her daughter Holly Kopit died in 2015. She will also be fondly remembered by her many beloved nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elaine and Jerry Snider Endowment Fund at JSSA or Main Street. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.
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