The legacy of R.J. Snow

The people who leave the most lasting legacies are often those who don't worry about such things while they're alive.

Such seems to be the case with R.J. Snow, the former University of Utah and Brigham Young University vice president who died on Tuesday in an automobile accident near his home. Snow, 68, was just preparing to teach his final political science course this summer before retiring.

His loss means the discourse in education, politics and religion in Utah will now be a little chillier.

For R.J. Snow's unintentional legacy is decency, civility and humanity.

Everyone who knew him spoke of his kindness. Those who didn't know him, heard precious little negative about him. His credentials were impressive, including a stint as the director of the Jerusalem Center for BYU and the public relations director for the Nauvoo temple restoration. And, of course, there were his many positions in higher education and even in private industry. But at heart, inside all of the accolades and high profile assignments, friends and colleagues say he never lost the common touch of a "school teacher." He was adept at handling grand schemes, but relished the chance to deal with people one on one.

Snow also served on the board of directors for the Deseret Morning News, which prompted current board chairman Ellis Ivory to say, "He was one of the brightest most thoughtful men," yet with so much intelligence and perception, he was also "so nice that he made friends every place he went."

At a time when nerves in the state and nation are strained and tensions are often pulled taut, the loss of R.J. Snow is like the loss of a great athlete during crunch time. He was taken at a crucial moment. He was at the top of his game. Still, given all that, one hopes the life he lived will now resonate even stronger; that those who are left to grapple with the problems of politics, education and society will find his memory and meaningful example — his legacy — calling forth in themselves R.J. Snow's hallmark decency and civility.