Former District 158 board member remembered as taxpayer advocate

A former Huntley Unit District 158 school board member who won over supporters as an advocate for taxpayers and created enemies with his often cantankerous style has died.

Larry Snow, who served on the school board from 2005 to 2009, was 61. Friends say Snow died from a brain tumor.

Tony Quagliano, who was appointed to the board in 2007, said Snow was a catalyst to bringing new leadership to the district.

“He rooted out the administration, and the district ultimately saw some extremely positive changes,” Quagliano said. “Albeit, maybe it wasn’t pretty. But maybe that was the only way it was going to happen.”

When Snow was elected to the board in 2005, the school district recently had passed a tax increase through referendum. Snow continually questioned the administration over $3 million from a state grant that was left out of district financial statements. It later was determined that the district had overstated its need for a tax increase and had created an appearance that the district’s finances were worse than they actually were.

The revelations led to the resignation of then-Superintendent Steve Swanson, and former finance director Paul Halverson retired shortly thereafter.

“He was certainly a taxpayer advocate and he would find a way to appeal to people,” Quagliano said. “His biggest strength was that he was very intelligent. Not everybody agreed with his ways but everyone respected his intelligence. He strove to improve the district during his time on the board.”

A memorial service for Snow was held last week, according to an obituary in the Daily Item of Lynn, Mass., Snow’s hometown.

Snow is survived by his brother, Vincent, and sister, Elizabeth Sniegoski, as well as his three daughters, Stacy Peters, Trina Geatz and Kerry Snow, and his granddaughter Caroline Peters.

Contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Parish, 8 S. Common Street, Lynn, Mass. 01902.