J.D. Williams, founding director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, said Snow strengthened the institute while overseeing "an unbelievable array of major university offices."

"I so admired him as a student, treasured him as a colleague and stood in awe of his qualities as a husband to Marilyn and father to four magnificent children," Williams said. "If one wants to know why teaching has been a great career, it's because I knew R.J. Snow. I could not have asked for better."

Snow left the U. in 1985 and worked for three years as president and director of the Jacobsen Construction Company.

After he served as a mission president in Johannesburg, South Africa, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1987-90, he was appointed BYU's vice president of student life.

He later became advancement vice president at BYU before leaving campus to serve as the director of the Jerusalem Center until July 2000.

Snow returned to BYU to teach political science but also took time out to serve as public relations director for the church's Nauvoo Restoration Inc., during the approval process, construction and dedication of its temple in Nauvoo, Ill., and as the faculty adviser for BYU's Washington Seminar program during the 2004 election year.

Snow's university and church positions were evidence of his ability to handle difficult situations and "get things done in a peaceful and harmonious way," said Ted Wilson, who followed Snow as director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics.

"Every time the Mormon Church had a sticky assignment, they'd send R.J. Snow," Wilson said. "It's a really big loss to the community."

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland called Snow a state treasure.

"R.J. had the unique ability to make contact and have a positive effect on the lives of his students, his missionaries and his colleagues," Holland said. "He had an indefinable quality that encouraged both friends and acquaintances to higher and higher levels of achievement."

Snow also served on the board of directors for the Deseret Morning News during a challenging period for the newspaper in the mid-to-late '90s, board Chairman Ellis Ivory said.

"Every place R.J. served, he provided a unique contribution," Ivory said. "He was one of the brightest, most thoughtful men I've known. He had that great blend of being so smart and so insightful and yet so nice that he made friends every place he went."

His influence on sports at BYU and the U. will also be remembered.

"The renaissance of the U.'s athletic department started when R.J. became vice president over athletics," former U. athletic director Arnie Ferrin said. "Over the years there was a dramatic change in the philosophy of athletics at the U., and R.J. is the one who was the genesis for it."

Snow served an LDS mission in France and earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the U. He earned a master's and doctoral degree at Northwestern University and did postdoctoral work at the University of Oregon and at Harvard.

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Contributing: Erin Stewart

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com