Beloved Jack of all Trades, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Student Mentor, and Messina Co-Director Dr. James J. Snow died at age 69. Snow started his career at Loyola as an adjunct professor of philosophy in 1988. Colleagues of Snow are familiar with the impact he had on countless students and alumni as he was an integral part of the Loyola community.
Snow notably created three timely and relevant courses for students: ‘Philosophy and Genocide,’ ‘Ethics and Politics of Humanitarian Intervention,’ and ‘Ethics After Auschwitz.’ Philosophy Department Chair Fuat Gürsözlü mentioned these courses when speaking about Snow and attested to the fact that he would often choose to teach extremely challenging courses.
“Jim always discussed contemporary examples, inviting his students to think with him in an attempt to understand such horrors and develop a normative response,” Gürsözlü said.
Though initially focusing on general philosophy, Snow’s focus shifted to the philosophy of genocide while working abroad in Leuven, Belgium with Dale Snow, his wife and fellow professor, who served as director of Loyola’s Leuven program from 2013-2015.
“I think it would be accurate to say that he reinvented himself as a genocide scholar. We used to joke about the term genocide scholar, because it sounds really dark, but that’s how he would describe himself. I have always found that shift in his interests, and his work that followed, to be truly remarkable,” Gürsözlü said.
President Terry Sawyer also acknowledged Snow’s lasting influence on the community.
“Over the years, so many students and alums have shared with me the impact that Dr. Snow had on ultimately forming their worldview. He truly made students think about what it means to be human,” said Sawyer.
One moment with Snow that stood out in Sawyer’s memory is a time while volunteering at a local food kitchen, Bean’s and Bread. Incidentally, Snow was a great cook. He studied culinary arts at l’Academie de Cuisine. Sawyer got the chance to experience Snow’s culinary talent firsthand at Bean’s and Bread, initially not even realizing who was making the food.
“He was totally in charge and prepared the food, lots of it, with such care and love. I later found out that the chef was Professor Snow and that we were actually colleagues at Loyola. A true man for and with others,” Sawyer said.
Gürsözlü said it cannot be overstated how moved the Loyola community is at the loss of Snow.
“He was a dedicated and caring teacher and advisor. He was deeply committed to our students’ intellectual development and overall well-being, and he would spend a great deal of time advising and mentoring them,” Gürsözlü said.
A mass will be celebrated in memory of James J. Snow, Ph.D, in the Alumni Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 12:10 p.m.