Nicholas "Nick" Paul Sneider

Nicholas “Nick” Paul Sneider, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.  Despite his diagnosis, he remained positive and lived life to the fullest until his passing.  

Nick was born on May 5, 1974 to Philip Sneider and Judith Tollison (Nyitray) in Toledo, Ohio.  He attended Highland Elementary, McCord Junior High, and Northview High School, all in Sylvania, Ohio where he is remembered for his lasting friendships, laughter and shenanigans, participation in marching band, choir, baseball, and for his sweet Oldsmobile and Cadillac.  He could be found playing street hockey with his brother and friends at a house where friends were always welcome to hang out.   He was close with his cousins and grew up creating bonds and funny stories that would last into adulthood.   Their parents may have dressed them in clothing and given them questionable haircuts that would be fodder for jokes for decades to come, but the love they shared is still evident today as they come together at family gatherings where laughter is a staple for the families they’re now raising.  

He began his long career in restaurants, all beginning with the letter “C,” at the Sylvania-famous Charlie’s Ice Cream and Edibles where he worked hard and was promoted to manager, making the delicious homemade ice cream, cleaning the grill at the end of the shift, balancing the books, and making the locals feel loved as generations would remember him behind the counter.  The patrons could also find him several nights a week at Charlie’s Pizza, just a few doors down, prepping the pizza dough and manning the pizza oven.   His coworkers still reminisce about all the shenanigans with Nick, both at work, and after hours at his house, watching WWE and having a drink or two while laughing and unwinding.   While working at Charlie’s he met a special girl named Stacey who caught his attention, and a love story began.  In 1999, he followed Stacey when she moved down to Columbus, Ohio and began a decade plus career with Champps Restaurant starting in the position of fry cook, a busy position that left him feeling and smelling disgusting at the end of the night.  He worked hard and moved up to the sauté and broiler stations and was soon able to easily handle any station required of him.  He never hesitated to jump from station to station, bailing out the cooks who were getting overwhelmed. Because of his work ethic and ability to lead people, he was soon promoted to kitchen manager before being promoted to Assistant General Manager.  In 2008, he followed Stacey once again and moved down to Durham, North Carolina where he continued his career as an AGM with Champps until he applied to The Cheesecake Factory and was hired as a kitchen manager.  He worked at The Cheesecake Factory for over a decade before his passing. His staff loved him and the stories of his smile, leadership, friendship, and mentoring were characteristics that often come up from those who worked alongside him.  

Nick met his wife, Stacey (Kornos) at Charlie’s Ice Cream in 1997.  They worked together for a while before coworkers convinced them that there was, in fact, a spark between them and to just go for it already.  In 2005, Nick proposed, and they married October 13, 2007 in Toledo, Ohio.  They spent 25 years taking walks while discussing life, writing notes back and forth about anything and everything, laughing until they were in tears, cooking meals big enough for 10 people when it was only the two of them partaking in the meal, surprising each other with little gifts, visiting breweries in various states, spending time with friends who became family, attending Cincinnati Reds, Toledo Mudhens, Columbus Clippers, and Durham Bulls baseball games as well as and Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes (especially when they played the Toronto Maple Leafs) hockey games, laughing at comedy shows, traveling to the beach or mountains in North Carolina, rooting for THE Ohio State University vs the University of Michigan in a house divided, grilling out, bonfires, hitting all the restaurants in Ohio they missed as North Carolina residents, listening to podcasts while doing chores around the house, and relaxing at home with their many rescue dogs.  Nick didn’t social media much, but his page was full of Stacey Sneider – with Nick Sneider adventures and memories.

Someone said, “to call Nick a friend was a true blessing.”  He made the world a better place for all those around him.  He had an enormous heart, was kind and generous, and touched so many people so deeply.  Nick impacted the lives of those who knew him because he cared about them and made sure they knew it.  His joy was contagious, and he spread smiles and laughter when he was around you.  He had a sense of humor that was unmatched (and that was often inappropriate to the delight of those in the restaurant and law enforcement fields) and he loved music and was often seen drumming on whatever surface was nearby with his fingers and feet.  If you were lucky, he would serenade you with song lyrics that he customized just for you.  Everyone who knew Nick knows in their heart that their life is better because he was in it.   He will be missed, but there will always be a memory, or most likely at least a dozen, of how he made you smile and picked you up if you were feeling down.

He will be remembered not only for the positive energy he spread, but also for his love for his family, dogs, friends, and coworkers. For his flowing, curly locks that would make any girl envious, his meme-style t-shirts, crazy button down shirts, trying new craft beers, relaxing at home while binge-watching Magnum P.I, the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, his GAFL baseball league, beers an inning, his Pontiac Firebirds, nicknames, PDN, the University of Michigan football, and his star finally on the top of the Michigan/Ohio State tree.

Nick is survived by: wife Stacey who is forever grateful for his love and patience with her throughout the 25 years they created an incredible life together and will miss him doing dishes by hand for her so she didn’t have to touch the dirty sink water; his parents Phil Sneider and Judi Tollison who raised him with unconditional love and support through all his life’s many adventures; and brother Craig Sneider who will always have the memories and adventures of growing up with Nick as well as their love for the Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Maple Leafs.   Nick also left behind his canine companions: Skittles, Jasper, and Harvey to watch over and protect Stacey on earth while he reunites with Scooter, Motley, and Tyler up in heaven.    

His departure is felt not only by his family but also by the countless others who were privileged to know him.  Stacey and his family appreciate all the support they have received during this difficult time.  The constant barrage of well wishes, cards, texts, phone calls, and moral support kept his spirits up.  To see the smile on his face when he received a well wish, realizing how many people cared for him and were rooting for him, will be forever cherished.  We also want to send a heartfelt thank you to the Oncology Teams at Wake Med and Duke University Hospital as well as Hock Hospice House for their compassionate care of Nick during his illness.    

An informal gathering to remember Nick will be held at Zinc House in Durham, North Carolina on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 3:00 to 8:00.  A second informal gathering will be held near his hometown of Sylvania, Ohio in the coming months and will be announced once arrangements can be made.  In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to Crisis Dogs NC Rescue (crisisdogsnc.org) or Neshama Animal Rescue (neshamarescue.org), the organizations who rescued his beloved foster fail canine companions.